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Toronto’s Bouscher headed to Oakland University

By ANDREW GRIMM 3 min read
Andrew Grimm HEADED TO THE NEXT LEVEL — Toronto senior Drake Bouscher signed his letter of intent to continue his academic and baseball careers at Oakland University on Wednesday. Joining Drake, front, second from right, were, seated, from left, his grandmother Susan Pickering, his mother Heather Bouscher and father Glenn Bouscher; and back, from left, Toronto assistant coach Trevor Host, head baseball coach Brian Perkins, athletic director Mark Ferrell and dean of academics Melissa Brown.

TORONTO -- Another member of the Bouscher family is headed to the state of Michigan to play college baseball.

Toronto Red Knights standout Drake Bouscher singed his letter of intent on Wednesday to officially commit to play NCAA Division I baseball for Oakland University.

"It's been surreal, singing the papers and making it official is really awesome," Bouscher said. "I really like their head coach (Brian Nelson), he shows everything I want in a coach and their facilities are great. I got to meet the team and they are awesome guys there.

Bouscher's older brother, Dom, also a Red Knights alumni, currently plays for Central Michigan. Oakland, which competes in the Horizon League, and CMU, of the MAC, play each other a couple times a year, setting up the possibility of a brotherly showdown in the future.

"They usually play each other a couple times a year, it would be pretty cool if I get a chance to play against him," he said. "It wasn't really planned that way (to both end up playing in Michigan) but it is cool it worked out that way."

Bouscher is the latest in a long line of Toronto players to head to the college ranks to continue their careers at the college level.

"As coach there's nothing more exciting than seeing a kid get the opportunity to play at the next level," longtime Toronto head coach Brian Perkins said. "It's so rewarding. We've had some success with kids going onto the next level, especially the Division I level, and performed well. It helps the kids the future generations and I know Drake will continue that success. We're excited for him and looking forward to watching what he does for them.

"Our kids see the success of the guys before them and how hard they work and see what it takes to get to that level."

"It's really cool to add another check mark to Toronto and be a part of so many people they have sent to play D1," Bouscher said. "Adding my name to that list is really cool."

He was the OVAC Player of the Year in Class 2A last season after helping the Red Knights win their third-straight conference title.

"Oakland University is getting not just a top-notch athlete, but a top-notch kid who is great in the classroom, is a natural leader and works harder than anyone and pushed everyone around him to be better,' Perkins said.

Starting at /week.