Bolstad, Pruitt sign to play college baseball

Zac Bolstad and Dodge Pruitt are looking forward to the challenge of college baseball.

The two senior baseball players at Siloam Springs signed letters of intent to play at the next level on Wednesday in a signing ceremony held inside Panther Activity Center.

Bolstad signed with College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo., while Pruitt signed with Oklahoma Wesleyan.

Both Bolstad and Pruitt have played large roles on the Panther baseball team since they were freshmen.

Bolstad has pitched and played in the infield for three years.

On the mound last season as a junior, Bolstad went 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA. He hit .246 with six RBIs, hitting in the middle of the Panthers' lineup. In the field, he committed only seven errors in 70 total changes for a 90 percent fielding percentage.

"He's been a staple ever since he walked on to campus," said Siloam Springs baseball coach Alan Hardcastle. "I believe he played a little second base as a freshman and shortstop and pitched. Coming into sophomore year, he took over at shortstop and pitched. Of course you know we only won four games, and he won two of them. He made play after play at shortstop. He's one of those that's going to be hard to replace after this year."

Bolstad said he'll likely pitch and play in the infield at College of the Ozarks.

"I originally went there for a tryout camp, and I guess I performed well and caught their eye," Bolstad said. "They re-invited me back and I went back and pitched and scrimmaged against their college team. They were interested in me and I got offered."

Pruitt, meanwhile, was the Panthers' catcher in 2015.

He hit .255 with five RBIs and had a .333 on-base percentage. Defensively he threw out nine runners trying to steal.

"Catching he's come a long way," Hardcastle said. "He struggled a little bit last year, but he's been working hard and gone to a few camps.

"He knows that to be a catcher at the next level you've got to be a wall and you've got to be a game-changer behind the plate. He's bought into it, and I've seen a big, big change in Dodge and he's going to surprise a lot of people this year. It's going to be tough to run on him. I'm looking forward to it."

Pruitt said he's happy at the chance to play college baseball. He'll likely play some catcher and outfield at Oklahoma Wesleyan.

"It's been a big goal," Pruitt said. "It's a lot of practice but I'm ready to go pursue that."