The Mount Vernon Nazarene
University baseball team has added an
important recruit to the team’s roster for
the 2009 season with the addition of Jerrob
Decker, who has decided to further his
education and continue his baseball career
at MVNU.
Decker,
a pitcher/infielder from Jeffersonville,
Ohio, posted a 4-1 record with a 2.21 ERA
and one save as a senior at Miami Trace High
School. In 32.2 innings of work, he struck
out 56 batters and issued just 17 walks for
an incredible average of 15.4 strikeouts per
nine innings. He also batted .429 with 12
doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 runs
scored, 14 RBI, and 17 stolen bases in 22
games. He was named to the South Central
Ohio League First Team and the All-District
First Team.
"Jerrob is a solid right-handed pitcher,”
said MVNU head coach Keith Veale, who has
posted a 641-310 record in 19 seasons at the
helm of the Cougars. "He has good velocity
and pitches to both sides of the plate. We
really liked the late break on his breaking
pitch when we went to see him throw. He is
another pitcher who has excelled as an
infielder which shows some good athletic
ability. His command of the fastball will
dictate his development on the mound. If he
shows command early, he could be a real help
early in his career.”
In addition to playing baseball at Miami
Trace, Decker was a member of the basketball
team. He was also active in Fellowship of
Christian Athletes and was a scholar-athlete
award recipient.
"There were several reasons why I chose
MVNU,” said Decker of his college choice.
"They have a very good baseball program and
Coach Veale is a successful and proven
coach.”
MVNU is an NAIA school that competes in
the American Mideast Conference. The Cougars
posted a 39-21 overall record in 2008 and
captured the program’s sixth National
Christian College Athletic Association
national title. The team also advanced to
the NAIA Region IX Tournament championship
game for the ninth straight year. Over the
years, MVNU has had 13 players drafted by
Major League teams including Tim Belcher,
who was the top pick overall in the 1983
draft. Seven other former players have
signed free agent contracts to play
professional baseball.