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Q&A with Missouri Southern commit, RHP Will Bausinger (Marquette, 2016)

July 16, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Will Bausinger (Marquette, 2016) recently committed to Missouri Southern. The 5-foot-11 165-pound righty has a feel for the mound, attacked hitters during game action at the Class of 2016 Games on June 9.  He throws with easy effort, and a high three-quarters release with quick arm speed.  He has three pitches in the strike zone, including a fastball at 84 mph.  Bausinger has the ability to put on size and continue to develop into his college years. 

Bausinger had a chance to describe his recruiting process and he landed at Missouri Southern. 

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?
       
Bausinger: My expectations were varied because I knew that you had to get your name out their which could always be hard but at the same time coaches can also find you which makes it easier. It was more difficult than easy just because if a coach doesn't email you back you cant give up on emailing other coaches, you have to be persistent.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
       
Bausinger: A little bit because I wanted to stay close enough to home so that my family would be able to watch me play and also stay in the State.

PBR: Where did the college you chose first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
        
Bausinger: Missouri Southern saw me at a PBR showcase last December and our relationship just grew from the first time they called me to my 1st and 2nd unofficial visits on campus.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?
        
Bausinger: The best player I have faced in our state would have to be Jake Matheny. Jake Matheny is always a tough out and can hit the ball well, but defensively he is like a brick wall behind the plate you rarely see anything get passed him, and he has a the kind of arm that can shut down the running game.

PBR: What has been the lowest point in your baseball career; what have you learned from it and how has it helped you grow as a player?
         
Bausginer: When I  injured my arm about 4 years ago that really brought me down, but it helped me learn how to take care of my arm and it also made me want to work harder and become better.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Bausinger: I was looking for a coaching staff that believed in me and also for a program that not only wants it's players to succeed at baseball, but also they have a ton of help keeping the players focused on academics first.

PBR: What part of your game needs the biggest improvement, why, and what will you do to improve it?
        
Bausinger: My biggest improvement would need to be that I rush my self sometimes when on the mound and that can lead to me falling behind in counts and throwing to many pitches.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
       
Bausinger: Don't stop working. Never give up no matter what anybody says, and always just be yourself.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Bausinger: I work out with a private pitching instructor, and do offseason workouts with Marquette during the fall winter up until tryouts.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Bausinger: It would either have to be from this year with Marquette when I got my first Varsity Start and Win (in the Willard tournament) against Mountain Home Arkansas where my mother attended High School, or going down to Phoenix Arizona for a tournament because that is a city I had always wanted to go visit.

PBR: What do you like most about Missouri Southern and what were the key factors in making you decision?
      
Bausinger: The location played a big factor in my decision because Joplin is only about 3 and a half hours away. Also after a visit in the Spring, I really loved their coaching staff and that they believe in what they are doing. Also it's a growing program with state of the art facilities and I felt it was something that I wanted to be apart of.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
        
Bausinger: Alabama State, University of Illinois Springfield, Heartland CC, Morehead State, Quincy.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Bausinger: Back in December (halfway through my Jr year) when I attended a PBR showcase and also right before the high school season began in about February.  My throwing numbers came up during that session in December and Missouri Southern contacted me right after the showcase.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel Marquette will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Marquette in 2016.

Bausinger: After coming off a good regular season, but with a loss in the 1st round of districts last year, I believe everybody who was apart of the team last year won't want to go through the same thing again. With that being said Marquette should be a really good team. We have a lot of talent coming back this year and everybody will have a desire to win. I truly believe our team next year is capable of doing a ton of damage in the regular season and postseason. Evan Stoll should help play a key role on the mound this year. Brendan Glock, Turner Cook, and Kellan Murray will all help with the hitting this year. Everybody should help play a key role next year on the team.  I am going to set personal goals of making all-conference, district and state, and a team goal of winning a state championship at Marquette in 2016.  And work hard to get better and be ready when I get into college in Fall 2016.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?
   
Bausinger: I play with the St. Louis Naturals (St. Louis Amateur Hall of Fame Coach Rich Phillips) and my most memorable experience with them would probably be seeing the team together and win back to back extra inning games this summer in a semi and championship game.

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