Two D-1 dandies sign at Pace

Two Pace players signed national letters of intent to play Division-1 baseball Wednesday.

One is following a family tradition by playing baseball at the same school his father did in the early 1980’s while the other will be making the long trek north to don the blue and maize.

C.T. Bradford signed to play for Mississippi State, where his father Mike was a starter in 1982 and 1983, while Mark Bass is looking for all the coats he can find as he is headed to Ann Arbor to play for Michigan.

For Bass, it is a time to get jackets and coats to prepare for the cold, but that doesn’t matter after he got to meet the coaches at Michigan.

“I wanted to go to the school on academics, but the coach saw me in Ft. Myers and asked me to think about Michigan,” said Bass. “I was about two days away from committing to UCF, but the coach (Rich Maloney) was a big decision over the others.”

Bass selected Michigan over UCF, Jacksonville, Sanford, Alabama Southern, Pensacola Junior College, and the University of West Florida.

Maloney has high praises for the big middle infielder who is a two time letter winner at Pace and one of four signees inked by Michigan during the early signing period.

"Mark is a 6-2 middle-infielder who brings great confidence, a good bat and good glove to our program," Maloney said. "I think as his body matures, with the help of our strength and conditioning program, he will have some very bright days ahead.”

For Bradford, the city of Starkville has taken some hits, but not when it comes to his heart.

“I am excited to be a part of the tradition of Mississippi State baseball and the facilities are amazing. There is nothing like them,” said Bradford. “I am also very excited to play for the coach (John Cohen) and be a part of his second recruiting class.”

Bradford is one of 15 signees for Cohen during the early signing period, but one he seems to be very familiar with.

The senior played for Coach Emillio Fernandez’s Florida Bombers in a 2009 summer league and earned MVP honors on offense.

Bradford batted .423 last season and compiled a 7-1 mark as a pitcher with 113 strikeouts in 66 innings.

The Pace infielder/pitcher chose the Bulldogs over Miami, LSU, UCF, and Clemson

For Warner the tradition of signees continues as these two seniors have helped the Patriots compile a 41-10 in the last two seasons as well as a district title.

“These teams are getting quality people and players as well,” said Warner. “We are looking for some really big things from both of them and expect them to play at the Division-I level this season.

“Both of these young men not only excelled on the baseball field, but in the class room as well and I couldn’t be any happier for them.”

Now Bass and Bradford are looking to the season ahead and doing everything they can to help continue they success they have enjoyed at Pace.