Looking to improve their chances of furthering their baseball careers in college, Iola High seniors Calvin Delich and Brady Wiggin have taken their talents to Kansas City for the summer, playing for Precision Baseball.
This week, the pair is participating for the 2019 Kansas Select team in Enid, Okla., as part of the High Plains Shootout. The tournament consists of four teams. Two represent Kansas and two Oklahoma. Delich and Wiggin are on the White Kansas Select team.
This past spring, Delich earned first team All-Pioneer League and All-State honors as an outfielder. Wiggin also earned first team All-Pioneer League and was an Honorable Mention All-State first baseman. Delich has been a part of Precision for six seasons. Wiggin has been with the club since he was a sophomore.
Precision is run by Charlie Hovey. Hovey has coached over 15 players to professional baseball, including Minnesota Twins first baseman Logan Morrison. Hovey highlights the passion for baseball in Delich and Wiggin, evident by the commitment to make the weekly trips to Kansas City for practice.
Both kids bring a great work ethic on and off the field. I think the world of both of them, Hovey said. The field and in the weight room is amazing and has helped transform their game. Calvin hit over .400 this summer and does a little bit of everything for us, and Brady hit around .375 with great power.
After the Mustangs baseball season, the pair took two weeks off from the diamond. But after those two weeks, Delich and Wiggin began grinding for Precision to work on their game.
We have been playing every single weekend at different locations in the area, Delich said. Some of the places we have played include KU and K-State. Both of us are just trying to get seen by college coaches.
So far, Precision has allowed Delich the opportunity to come in heavy contact with NCAA Division II schools and junior colleges. Delich points out that before this summer, he had few coaches messaging him about playing baseball in college, but Precision has allowed both players to receive college looks.
I also hadnt received any looks or talked to any colleges until this summer, Wiggin said. So far this summer I have gotten in contact with a couple of junior colleges. We do get the opportunity to play in front of college scouts, and its something Im not used, but I like it.
MARK PERCY has been in charge of the Iola Mustang baseball program since it started 15 years ago, and has coached numerous amounts of talent. When college coaches ask Percy about summer talent, he usually refers them to the American Legion squads. Unfortunately, Legion play doesnt register on their radar, Percy said, to which he responds by saying they are missing out on premier talent. Instead, college coaches spend their time in Wichita or Kansas City where they can see all the talent they need in one weekend.
So the fact that Delich and Wiggin have not only been a part of Precision this summer, but are also playing in Enid for a game full of All-State talent, is a huge bonus.
Most of the players they (Delich and Wiggin) will be competing against are 5A and 6A players, and come from Topeka, Shawnee Mission, and the Wichita area, Percy said. It should be a great experience for them. They will be facing good pitching and great competition.
The process of being chosen to play for Kansas Select is based on recognition from coaches. Luckily, Delich and Wiggin have been decorated with honors from the Pioneer League and state of Kansas.
But the honors and opportunities to play in front of college scouts dont happen overnight. Although Delich and Wiggin dont practice together separate from Precision, they run into each other frequently at Riverside Park.
I cant tell you how many times we see each other at the batting cages, Delich said. Brady comes down with his dad all the time. Most of the practice I get it is hitting off the tee, and working on my swing.
