Crussen Signs with Purdue University Calumet

Harper College baseball player Tyler Crussen (Wheeler, Ind. /Wheeler) had a pretty successful two-year career with the Hawks. A two-time Second Team All-Conference selection, the center fielder will have a new home beginning in the fall, as he will continue his baseball career at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana.

Crussen will play for the Peregrines, members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). Purdue University Calumet (PUC) is coached by Dave Griffin, who helped lead the Peregrines to a 23-16 mark in the 2015 season.

Crussen, a native of Wheeler, Indiana, has known Coach Griffin for his whole life and feels Purdue Cal is the right fit for him.

"He's built a great program already in such a short time. Plus, there's a lot of familiar faces and guys I've played with before," Crussen said. "It gives me the best chance to go and play at the next level, and I get the opportunity to do what I love for a very cheap cost."

As a sophomore, Crussen played 43 games, hitting .344 (second on team) with 13 RBIs, 28 runs, 55 hits, five doubles, three triples, and 16 stolen bases out of the leadoff spot in in the lineup. In conference play, he stepped up his game with a .377 average, eight RBIs, 16 runs, 29 hits, four doubles, and 12 steals in 23 games to earn Second Team All-Conference distinction for the North Central Community College Conference (N4C).

In his freshman year for the Hawks, Crussen hit .331 with 12 RBIs and 13 steals in 42 games. In N4C action, he hit .457 with four RBIs and two stolen bases in 12 conference games to earn Second Team All-Conference.

Off the field, Crussen did well in the classroom with a 3.3 GPA, earning him N4C Academic All-Conference honors for two years at Harper College.

Crussen plans to get his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Purdue University Calumet and is considering studying pre-law down the road.

Reflecting on his Harper experience, there are some things Crussen learned that he will take with him to his next endeavor.

"I learned the junior college grind and what it takes to work out, get bigger, hit every day, and academics wise - all for one common goal. I feel like I have so much experience (coming in to PUC)."

While Crussen loves the opportunity in front of him, he will certainly miss some things about Harper College.

"I'll miss my teammates and brothers over the two years. I'll miss those friendships and going to battle with those guys."