On Thursday, senior Josh White joined Cory Kyle and Brock Chaffin as the third Tiger to sign a letter-of-intent to continue his baseball career next season at the collegiate level.

White, a senior RHP/OF, signed a letter of intent to play at College of the Ozarks.

“I just thought the Christian atmosphere and everything they offer was what I needed,” Josh White said. “I chose C of O for the school, but baseball was definitely a consideration. (College of the Ozarks head coach John) Hartley is a great coach and I look forward to learning as much as I can from him and the other coaches.”

Josh White signed a letter of intent to play with College of the Ozarks on

Thursday.  Seated in the front are White's parents Larrie on the left and Clint

on the right.  Behind are College of the Ozark head coach John Hartley and

Stoutland Head Baseball Coach Scott White.

White is 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA on the mound this season. In 23 1/3 innings, he has walked 15 and struck out 39.

“Every game at the college level is a big game, and we know that being here, at this great baseball school, he has definitely pitched in big games,” Hartley said. “He is a gamer, and we look forward to him challenging every day next year. I believe the experience of the playoffs, the Final Four, and the unbelievably tough schedule that Coach White and the Tigers play will have a major impact on Josh’s ability to handle pressure situations.

“The other reason we got him is projectability. We are actually looking at 18-year-old kids and seeing what we think he will do when he is 22. He is a big, strong, athletic kid, who we believe will increase his miles per hour a bunch, and absolutely be dominant for us in the future.”

Hartley has signed what many believe is an outstanding small-school recruiting class. It is Hartley’s first recruiting class at C of O after taking over at the school following last season. Among the players the Bobcats have signed are Willard OF Tyler Hartley and Waynesville RHP Dustin Loggins.

“We have 21 pitchers coming in next year,” Hartley said. “Some may play a position as well, but in the fall we will start sorting them out to see if they are going to relieve or start or maybe even close. We think Josh will fit in fine.”
White is the first Stoutland player to sign with a four-year school this year. Kyle recently signed to play at Jefferson College, while Chaffin has signed to play at Longview.

With the help of a pair Lebanon High School products, LHP Brock Shamel and RHP Brian Decker, C of O finished 27-18 in Hartley’s first season.

“I think it is a great fit for Josh,” Stoutland head coach Scott White said. “He likes the small school atmosphere and I believe he will do well there. The baseball program is starting to be really good and they have recruited an unbelievable class of freshman. I believe Josh will fit in nicely there.”