ESCANABA----One of the top high school baseball pitchers in the state of Michigan has decided on where to attend college. Escanaba senior Lenny Peacock has committed to attend school and pitch at Western Michigan University.
“It’s a great opportunity and I’m extremely lucky and extremely grateful for everything I’ve been given,” Peacock told RRN Sports Thursday night. “I’m very thankful for everyone who has helped me through the process. My friends, my family, my teammates, and my coaches.”
That he would play Division One baseball was always in the cards, from the moment he joined the Eskymos as a freshman with a lively arm. For Escanaba last season, Peacock threw 44 innings, struck out 90 batters, and had a 1.50 Earned Run Average. Opposing batters hit just .135 against him last spring. And a the plate, Peacock batted .361 with two home runs and five triples, which tied a school record.
Peacock played this summer for the ISA travel ball Royals, going to tournaments around the Midwest. He struck out 36 batters in 27 innings, and gave up only 12 hits and 12 walks. Opponents batted just .133 against him, and his Royals ERA was a tiny 1.05
Peacock says he’s also thankful to h.ave the recruiting process over.
“There’s definitely one word I can use to describe it: LONG,” Peacock said. “It was a very long process and it can get stressful at times. But, I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. I had a great time. I’m extremely excited to go play at Western.”
He’ll follow in the footsteps of fellow Eskymo Jared Hanson, who pitches at Central Michigan University, also in the Mid American Conference. And Eskymo graduate Grant LaMarche, who pitched for Division Two Northwood University, but at a high level, leading them to the World Series back in June.
As for Peacock, why did he choose to go to Kalamazoo?
“It’s such a great program that has such a big history,” Peacock said. “Having high-value (MLB) draft picks, and having a high amount of success and winning there, which is a big thing to me in developing. I couldn’t have found a better fit.”
Peacock will have one last chance to help the Eskymos make another long tournament run next spring during his senior year. The Eskymos made it to the regional final in his sophomore year before being eliminated in the district tournament in his junior campaign.
Peacock plans to study business at Western Michigan.
