Very experienced relief arm, who already holds the NCAC and Wooster records for career appearances with 75 heading into senior year.
2016: Continued to be one of the first arms out of the bullpen … Ranked 19th in Div. III and second in the NCAC behind teammate Hank Schlueter in appearances (23) … Nailed down four saves on the year, while sporting a 3.21 ERA in 28 innings of work … Set the NCAC record for career pitching appearances (75) against The College of New Jersey at the NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional (May 21) … Picked up the save in that contest, throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball … Two days prior, set Wooster’s career appearances record, surpassing Mark Miller’s 73 against Randolph-Macon (May 19) … Key in the championship round of the NCAC Tournament against DePauw (May 14), firing 5 1/3 innings between the two games, while only allowing one run … Threw four scoreless frames in the first game of the championship round, while striking out seven for the save.
2015: Set a school record with 30 appearances and went 5-2 with eight saves as the team’s primary closer … Led the league in both appearances and saves, while ranking second and 15th across NCAA Div. III in those categories, respectively … Produced a 6.32 ERA and struck out 35 during 37 total innings … Entered NCAC Tournament games (May 7-8) twice, pitching 4 1/3 innings … Recorded season-high five strikeouts in two scoreless innings at Kenyon (April 5) … Threw season-long 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball and won 7-6, 12-inning game vs. Allegheny (March 30) … Came on in relief for two innings of shutout ball to win season opener, 6-4 vs. North Park (March 9).
2014: Saw regular action on the mound with 22 appearances (one start) and threw the second-most innings (26 1/3) of any freshman on the staff … Won all three decisions he factored in (3-0) while compiling a 4.78 ERA and 24 strikeouts … Worked three innings and yielded three runs during the NCAC Tournament (May 8-10) … Went four scoreless innings at Oberlin (April 19), marking the longest stretch of the season … Season-high three strikeouts in three different games, including twice striking out the side … Especially effective early on, posting a 0.75 ERA and winning two games over his first 10 appearances (12 innings) … Struck out two of three batters he faced during collegiate debut vs. national power Marietta (March 9).
Prior to Wooster: Won the county ERA title as a senior (0.83) at Alliance High School and finished his career with the Aviators with a tidy 1.12 ERA … First-team all-conference in 2013 … Totaled nine letters – three in baseball and soccer, two in swimming, and one in football.
Personal: Born on Jan. 23, 1995 … Son of Mark and Karen Whitaker … Majoring in chemistry.
