The Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball program has signed a former Valley Forge High School standout to join the Cougars for the 2002 season.
Brian Husel, a pitcher from Parma, Ohio, posted a 7-2 record with a 2.01 earned run average as a senior at Valley Forge. In 60 innings of work, he struck out 89 batters and issued just 20 walks. He also compiled a .316 batting average with four doubles, three triples, 20 runs scored, 14 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases. In a 15-0 victory over John Marshall High School on May 5, he struck out all 15 batters in the game that lasted just five innings.
For his efforts, Husel was named to the Lake Erie League First Team each year from 1999 to 2001. He was also selected as a two-time Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2000 and 2001. In addition, he was named to the Cuyahoga County Second Team as a junior and a senior.
"Brian has had the types of pitching experiences that should give him the opportunity to compete early in his career," said MVNC head coach Keith Veale. "He has had some double digit strikeout games which indicates that at least on occasion he can take over a game. We had Brian in over the winter, and I liked his command of pitches. He is a nice addition to our pitching staff."
"I chose to attend MVNC for several reasons," said Husel of his college choice. "The college has the reputation of being an outstanding liberal arts college. Coach Veale is an outstanding coach, and the MVNC baseball program is known very well. The program has produced some great players."
MVNC posted a 35-16 overall record in 2001 as the program notched its eighth straight 20-win season. The Cougars also advanced to the championship game of the NAIA Region IX Tournament for the third straight year and the semifinals of the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament.
