Photo | Paul Adkins

Chapmanville Regional High School’s Tyler Killen (3) throws to first base. Killen, a graduated senior middle infielder and pitcher, has signed on top play collegiate ball at Concord College.

slideshow

CHAPMANVILLE — Tyler Killen had a steady prep baseball career at Chapmanville Regional High School.

He hopes to carry that over to the collegiate level.

Killen, a right-handed pitcher and second baseman for the Tigers, is headed to play college baseball at Concord College.

Killen, who was 3-0 on the mound during the 2011 season with 37 strikeouts and just eight walks in 25.2 innings of work, had made his decision early on where to play.

“He kind of surprised all of us,” Chapmanville baseball coach Eric Ellis said. “He went down there for a visit and worked out a little bit for them. They liked them and then they came over to watch him when we played over at Nitro. They liked what they saw and they also liked Tyler Cox. So then he went down to Concord for another visit and they ended up signing him.”

Ellis said Killen will most likely be a middle relief pitcher only at Concord. He did play some middle infield for Chapmanville in his high school career, also starting at second base on the Tigers’ 2011 Class AA state championship baseball team.

“Right now, their plans are to use him as a pitcher initially,” Ellis said. “I think they plan to use him kind of like we did — in a relief role for the most part. He comes in there and throws strikes. He’s got a pretty decent fastball and a good slider but he throws strikes. That’s what you want out of your bullpen guys. In all the four years that he pitched for us he stayed right around the plate and didn’t walk a whole lot of guys. He’s reliable. You know that if your starter isn’t throwing well that day you’ve got Tyler to come in and throw strikes.”

Ellis said Killen was a steady player and will be missed.

“We was a three-year starter and we’re losing yet another player off the 2011 state championship team,” Ellis said. “Last year we lost six players from that team and four of them went to go play (college baseball). This year we’ve got three more to have an opportunity. That’s nine guys from that team who are going to have an opportunity to play college ball. That’s a pretty impressive showing for one particular team.”

Chapmanville shortstop/pitcher Tyler Cox and first baseman/pitcher Jordan Banks are also both likely to play college baseball as well. Banks is expected to sign on Thursday, while Cox is still taking offers, Ellis said.

The Tigers went 20-11 during the 2012 season as Chapmanville lost 6-5 to Wayne in the Class AA regional semifinals at Chapmanville’s Ted Ellis Field.

CRHS beat Scott to claim the Double-A sectional title for the fourth straight season.

Killen, Cox, Banks and the rest of the Chapmanville senior class were a part of each of the sectional championship teams.