Warsaw’s Joey Springer will continue his baseball career in town, signing with Grace College. InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Joey Springer didn’t have to do too much research to find out about his next baseball landing spot. He just had to text his head coach.

Springer will continue the Grace College baseball pipeline after signing with the Lancers to continue his baseball career. Playing for Warsaw head coach Andy Manes, a former Lancer slugger, and Warsaw assistant Adam Augustine, a former Grace pitching coach, Springer should be well-equipped to head across town.

Springer’s high school sample size is limited to just one season. As a sophomore, Springer was an everyday player for the Tigers in 2019. He batted just .227, but had an on-base of .402. He rapped 15 hits and coaxed 19 walks, coming around to score 13 times. He also had six RBI and five stolen bases in 28 games.

Serving as a middle infielder, he carried an .862 fielding percentage.

On the hill, Springer appeared in 13 games, starting three. He struck out 24 batters in 37.1 innings pitched as Warsaw finished the season 12-17 overall in Manes’ first season as head coach.

Springer’s junior season was erased by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Joey will do the work necessary to beat you,” Manes said. “Pitched our semi-final sectional game versus Northridge as a sophomore, and looking forward to him on the mound this spring. Excited to see him play at Grace, my alma mater.”

Springer is looking to study mechanical engineering, currently carrying a 3.79 GPA. He is part of the Tiger Leadership Council, Feed My Starving Children, and volunteers at a local food pantry and at Baker Youth Center.

Grace is led by Ryan Roth, who will begin his second year in Winona Lake after the team went 6-10 in an abbreviated spring of 2020.

“The school represents good values,” Springer said of Grace. “It has my major, is close to home, and a good, competitive place to play.”