Bachman Latest From Lakota East To Make Ohio State Commitment

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - Lakota East has started a pipeline to Ohio State.

Drew Bachman is the latest from the school to make the scarlet-and-gray home.

“I sent videos throughout the spring and they liked them, one especially,” Bachman said in reference to hitting the low-90s on the radar. “That sparked a relationship. I had some conversations with them, assistant coach Matt Angle in particular.”

An offer and commitment was the end result, with the third-ranked 2021 left-handed pitcher in the state joining Nate Haberthier, a Lakota East 2020, as a Buckeye.

“He didn’t push me too hard, he just talked to me about what he thought of the staff and (head) coach (Greg) Beals,” Bachman said of Haberthier. “He had good things to say and just kind of guided me through it.”

The decision to make Ohio State home was not a difficult one for the 6-4 185-pound southpaw.

“Ohio State has always been my dream school,” Bachman said. “My dad’s an Ohio State fan, my mom is and they just passed it down.”

Nathan Rode, PBR National Supervisor, expressed high expectations about Bachman during the spring.

“He is a good athlete that showcases some explosiveness, topping 89 mph with the fastball and sitting 85-87 mph,” Rode said back in May about the 12th-ranked 2021 player in Ohio. “He attacks hitters with the pitch that he moves around the zone and complements the fastball with a sharp slider that earns its fair share of misses. The pitch has good depth with tight spin, dropping off the table late in the zone. He’s a high follow.”

Ohio State was certainly impressed with what Bachman showed.

“They like my development,” Bachman explained. “I went through some adversity and I’ve gotten better. I’ve cleaned things up in my mechanics and I move more efficiently now. My hips are better. My arms were long and loopy before, but now my arm action is shorter and more efficient.”

An injury prevented Bachman from participating in the Future Games last August and hardship continued with COVID-19 bringing the cancellation of a promising spring season at Lakota East with Harbethier, Bachman and 2022 Ethan Whiteaker expected to form an imposing pitching staff.

“At first it seemed like a bad thing, we’ve been waiting for this high school season,” Bachman noted. “But it ended up giving me time to build up my throwing and to learn. I made the most of it sending out videos and working out. I have a good squat rack of weights in the basement and my trainer sent me things to do. I’d throw about every day and lift five or six times a week.”

Bachman pointed to Josh Elleman with Elite Strength and Conditioning as playing a big role in helping his velo rise.

“Getting in the weight room has been huge,” Bachman said. “I’ve put on lean muscle and really improved.”

But there is more in the tank in the eyes of the Lakota East incoming senior, whose recruiting process took off a year ago after the Top Prospect Games..

“I’m looking to improve my fastball, I think it can climb into the low-90s consistently,” Bachman said. “I have the control, I just want to have a consistent three-pitch mix.”

A 4.0 student considering a major in kinesiology or physical therapy, Bachman is admittedly excited about a future at the Big 10 school.

“I’ve dreamed of going to Ohio State and being a baseball player my whole life,” Bachman said. “It’s nice to be done with the process and not have to worry about sending out videos and making an impression.

“I’m looking forward to the summer season. I’m going to try out for the East Coast Pro Team and play in Jupiter in October. I want to get ready for spring and then be as good as I can be when I step on the campus.”

At Ohio State, Bachman will find a familiar face in Habethier, his high school teammate at Lakota East. And who knows, perhaps Whiteaker will continue the pipeline in the future.

“I’d love to see three East players there,” Bachman said. “He could make it happen.”