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Karaffa verbals to Ohio State

Toronto sophomore will play baseball for the Buckeyes

Toronto sophomore Nate Karaffa has given a verbal commitment to play baseball at Ohio State. (Mike Mathison)

TORONTO — Nate Karaffa won’t have to change colors.

The Toronto High School sophomore made a verbal commitment Sunday to continue his academic and athletic careers at Ohio State University, where he will be a member of the baseball program.

“I have been talking to them for a while,” he said. “They came and watched me play at Boardman and invited me and my family on a visit.”

That happened Sunday and, in a bit of a surprise to Karaffa, the Buckeyes made an offer.

“I wanted to say yes right away,” he said. “But, I had to talk it over with my family first. I wasn’t sure if it would be too early to say yes, or the right time to do it.

“But, Ohio State just feels like the right place. Now, I can just play baseball for the next two years.”

Karaffa said he was also in conversations with Pitt, Wright State, Kent State, Middle Tennessee State, East Carolina and Youngstown State.

“This has everything to do with the kids in the past,” veteran Red Knights baseball coach Brian Perkins said. “This is about the next kid going on and succeeding and that opens doors for the next kid.

“With Nate and Nolan (Clegg) going to Ohio State, that opens doors for other kids in the future.”

Clegg, a Toronto junior, verbally committed to the Buckeyes and head coach Greg Beals in August.

“Coach Perkins has really helped with the recruiting process and Nolan has also been a big help,” Karaffa said. “I really didn’t know what to expect, and he helped tell me what to do and the steps to go through it. It’s going to be great being teammates with him at Ohio State.

“Ohio State was always one of my dream schools since I was a kid. It can’t get any better than that.”

Karaffa has helped lead the Red Knights to a 16-2 record and a berth in the OVAC Class 2A championship game Saturday at Vacarro Field against Wheeling Central. Time of the game is to be determined.

Karaffa, who plays shortstop and pitches, is ranked No. 14 in the state by Prep Baseball Report. Clegg is No. 10.

“As a coach, you’re very excited to see kids go on to the next level. It’s the most rewarding thing for a coach,” Perkins said. “Nate has brought continued tradition of good middle infielders at Toronto High School. He makes the routine plays and makes the hard plays look easy.

“It’s a great fit for everyone and it will be great that Nate will be able to put the uniform on of the university he grew up rooting for.

“Going to the DI level is not easy and we don’t have a lot of them come out of this area. He has put in the necessary work, and the extra work, to improve his game on a daily basis. He understands the work ethic it takes on the field and in the classroom.”

Karaffa, who is the starting quarterback on the football team and point guard on the basketball team, said baseball “came more natural to me of the three.

“I love being out there with my buddies playing a game.”

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