Ohio University a familiar place for Rausch family

AJ Rausch OF / SS / Olentangy Liberty, OH / 2020

POWELL - AJ Rausch is keeping up the family tradition.

Both parents and a sister went to Ohio University and now the Olentangy Liberty junior will be following in their footsteps after a commitment to the Mid-American Conference school.

“OU starting talking to me last fall,” the 29th-rated 2020 in the state said. “I’ve talked with (Ohio assistant coach) CJ Wamsley for about a year. He went to a bunch of my games this summer and about three or four weeks ago offered. I talked about it with my family.”

Wright State and Miami joined Ohio as the final three for Rausch, who also had offers from George Washington and Dayton.

“All three came to a lot of my summer games,” noted the 5-11 170-pounder. “After the Future Games they were still very interested.”

In fact, all three offered following the PBR event in August. Visits took place before the decision was made.

“It meant a lot when they offered,” Rausch said of Ohio. “I like everything about it. I like the coaching staff and I really like the university. I’m very comfortable with the campus. It felt like home to me. I’m comfortable making the decision to go to OU.”

While the eighth-ranked junior outfielder in Ohio is likely to play middle infield this spring for his high school team, the defending Division I champions, Rausch was recruited as an outfielder.

“I play outfield in the summer and all the schools recruited me as an outfielder,” Rausch noted. “OU likes me as an outfielder. They like my speed, they like my ability to get on base and they like that I have a little power.”