By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
November 12, 2008 11:32 pm
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Enid athletic director Bill Mayberry couldn’t recall being as busy as he was during the first day of the NCAA’s early signing date.
At 5:30 p.m., he was at Oakwood Country Club seeing golfers Chris Worrell and Aly Seng signing with the universities of Tulsa and Oklahoma respectively.
At 6 p.m., he was at Pastimes, watching Enid pitcher Tobin Mateychick sign with Wichita State.
Monday, he will watch softball pitcher Alex Jones sign with the University of Kansas. In February, two EHS football players — Clint Chelf and Trent Dupy — will be signing with the University of Tulsa.
“I can’t remember this many kids signing with Division I schools in my tenure,’’ said Mayberry. “It’s an exciting day for us and for these kids ... these kids put in a lot of hours on their own to accomplish this.’’
The signings might have been the first step for the ultimate goal of a professional career.
Mateychick, who committed to the Shockers this summer, is currently projected to go in the amateur baseball draft next spring.
“That’s definitely a possibility,’’ he said. “It depends on the dollar figure. It’s nice to have a backup plan like this.’’
Mateychick, a 6-foot-3 righthan-der, was 7-3 as a junior for the Plainsmen with a 2.46 ERA. He struck out 63 batters in 622/3 innings. He pitched for Enid’s state champion Major Legion champions.
“The people I’ve talk to project him high in the draft,’’ Mayberry, Mateychick’s Legion coach said. “He may have a decision to make. At some point, the money kicks in. Everybody has a different amount for them in their life.’’
Mateychick likes his options.
“My No. 1 dream is to play pro ball, but either way is good way for me,’’ he said. “This (scholarship) was one of the goals that I set and I got it done. I am proud of myself, but I’m ready to keep working hard.’’
Oklahoma State made a late run at Mateychick this week.
“It made it tough,’’ he said, “but it made me realize Wichita State is the place for me.’’
“This is a great opportunity for Tobin,’’ said Enid baseball coach Scott Baugh. “He is a tremendous athlete who has a chance to be a lot better than he is right now.’’
Mateychick could have some company, Baugh said. Pitcher-catcher Seth Sturgeon, first baseman Zach Gonzalez and pitcher-outfielder Brett Kenaga all are solid college prospects.
Seng, who will join her baseball-playing brother Tyson at OU, has dreams of following Enid native Stacy Prammanasudh on the LPGA Tour.
“She has influenced me quite a bit,’’ Seng said. “I feel like I have to live up to her standards. She definitely helped me to set my goals to get a scholarship.’’
Pacers coach David Lee said Seng has much the same work ethic and leadership Prammanasudh had. Seng is the fourth player in Lee’s tenure to receive a Division I scholarship.
Seng tied for fourth at the state 6A tournament last spring but was the Oklahoma Women’s Golf Association state junior champion this summer.
She averaged 77.1 strokes per round as a junior, including a women’s competitive course record 68 at Oakwood Country Club during the Centennial Conference tournament.
Oakwood Country Club pro Tim Mendenhall said neither Seng or Worrell has reached their full potential. Seng had asked Mendenhall as early as her sophomore year how he would compare her to Prammana-sudh.
Mendenhall point out Prammana-sudh’s name was on the state junior championship trophy five times to Seng’s one.
“Stacy’s set the pinnacle,’’ he said. “Aly and Chris both have a long ways to go. It’s pretty unique and exciting to have two players playing D-I at major universities.’’
Worrell was glad the recruiting hype was officially over with the signing.
“This is just the start of it (college career),’’ he said. “It’s not over with. I need to continue to work on my game.’’
Worrell qualified for the U.S. Junior Championships last summer. The PGA Tour is a dream that’s realistic but still far away.
“I have to work a lot harder than I am now to get to that stage,’’ he said. “Tulsa is a good golf school. I got to work on what I need to do and not worry about what somebody else has done.’’
Worrell averaged 72.5 strokes per round as a junior. He finished in a tie for ninth at the state tournament.
“This is a tribute to how strong junior golf is in Enid,’’ said Plainsmen golf coach Tom Seng, Aly’s father. “Tim and Darryl (Meadowlake pro Court) have been very instrumental in this. It didn’t come overnight.’’
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