By Jeff Odom
Bishop McLaughlin baseball players Tanner Koch and Colton Nussel have done nearly everything together in their four years on the high school diamond.
Now, the pair will move on with each other to the next level.
Both Koch and Nussel signed their letters of intent Nov. 14 in front of teammates, friends and family to attend the University of Montevallo in Alabama, where they will continue to pitch.
“It’s a definite honor,” said Nussel, who went 6-2 with a 2.53 ERA last season. “I’m really looking forward to going up and playing with him. I’ve been playing with him since I was like 12, and it’s definitely going to be a fun time in college.”
Nussel instantly hit it off with his teammate when he moved to the area from Bradenton. Koch (6-4, 1.45 ERA) said it’s a friendship that means the world to him.
“It’s a special feeling that not a lot of people get,” Koch said. “I’ve been provided with the opportunity to take my baseball career to the next level and do it with my best friend. He’s been there for me all four years and since he moved here. … It’s been a cool experience.”
The Hurricanes went 18-10 last year and advanced to the playoffs as the Class 3A-District 8 runner-up.
‘Canes coach Tom LoSauro, who is also Bishop McLaughlin’s athletic director, said he is proud of the pitching duo and added the two have brought a spark to the program.
“As a coach, probably the proudest moments you have is when your team does well and when your players get to fulfill their dreams,” LoSauro said. “Their skill levels speak for themselves, but these guys are more than about skills. These guys have tremendous character and they’ve got a blue collar work ethic and they’re tremendous leaders.”
Koch said when he and Nussel played a tournament near the campus, the reaction they got from coaches made their decision easy.
“The main thing was the relationship with the coaches,” Koch said. “They’re just nice, and once me and Colton committed, they just showed that they were really ecstatic and it was a great feeling for us to feel loved and it was just a good family feeling.”
Montevallo is a Division I program in the Peach Belt Conference. The Falcons went 25-28 last season.
–Stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
