Dundee-Crown outfielder Romano picks Miami (OH)

Consider Dundee-Crown outfielder Jake Romano one happy camper.

The senior had been talking to two other Division-I schools as well as junior college baseball powers Heartland and John Logan, but the camp he attended two Saturdays ago at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio convinced him to become a Redhawk.

The 17-year-old Algonquin resident gave his verbal commitment to the Mid-American Conference program Saturday.

“I’m really excited,” Romano said. “It’s a huge relief to have that decision out of the way.”

Romano had been speaking with Missouri and Minnesota State, but he received a call out of the blue from Redhawks coach Dan Simonds in mid-August. It was his first direct contact with the school, though Miami coaches had seen Romano pitch at the Area Code tryouts this summer.

Jake’s mother, Mary Kay Romano, had also furnished the Miami staff with a link to Jake’s recruitment website.

“I have to give her a shout out for that,” Jake Romano said. “I went to the camp two weeks ago and their coach was really cool. Everything just worked really well. I really liked their field, too. It’s only a couple of years old and it was really nice.”

Romano will compete in his fourth season of varsity baseball at Dundee-Crown this spring. A Daily Herald All-Area selection as a junior, last spring he helped the Chargers win a Class 4A regional title by hitting .394 (41-for-104) with 4 home runs, 11 doubles, 3 triples and 27 RBI. In 128 plate appearances he drew 20 walks and struck out only 10 times. Romano is also an excellent center fielder with speed and a plus throwing arm.

Martin to Indiana State: Crystal Lake South pitcher Nick Martin committed to Indiana State last week.

Martin went 7-4 as a junior with a 2.76 ERA. He struck 61 in 63⅓ innings and threw a no-hitter against Dundee-Crown, a team that went on to win a regional title.