The Scottsbluff High multi-sport athlete will be taking his athletic talent to Western Nebraska Community College after signing to play for the Cougar baseball team Tuesday evening.

                Reisig, who has played with the WESTCO and Gering American Legion teams, said he is excited to continue playing baseball in college, a sport that he has played since he as a tiny tot.

                "I would like to say that Coach (Mike) Jones helped me a lot, too, the last couple of years and guided me to where I wanted to be today," Reisig said about his decision to play baseball for the Cougars. "He has been watching me for a long time. I have been going to his camps since I was 10, so I always looked up to him and all the players, too, so I knew right away that I had to go."

                Picking was a pretty easy decision for Reisig even though he was a stellar football and basketball player at Mitchell and now Scottsbluff.

                "I have been playing baseball since I was four years old and I always loved it," Reisig said about playing his favorite sport. "Football is super hard on your body, but I have always liked football. Basketball is the same thing, it is super hard on your body. I just fell in love with baseball super early and I am super grateful."

                Reisig will be destined to be a pitcher at the college level and that was where he shined for the WESTCO and Gering PVC programs the past three years. His goal is to get stronger and better as a pitcher during his time at the college.

                "I think I can become a way better pitcher. I can make my mechanics way better and my body and hit the weight room," Reisig said. "I just want to focus on getting bigger and stronger. Eventually I would like to be a starter but it is all up to him in the end."

                While he used to throw a knuckleball in the past, that pitch is no longer in his repertoire. His strength is two pitches, a fastball and a curveball. But, he said, he does want to throw the batters a curve and develop a slider.

                "I used to throw a knuckleball but I quit doing that. When you get older you can't throw that junk anymore," he said. "Right now I am throwing a fastball and a curve ball and I would like to develop a slider and get more velocity on the curve ball."

                His goal when he comes to WNCC next fall is to get better so he can continue on at a four-year level and keep playing as long as he can.

                "Definitely I would like to play as long as I could and at a high level, too," he said. "It (WNCC) is a great opportunity and I am beyond blessed. My family and my brother helped me so much to be where I am today. I can't thank them enough."

                During his summer playing experience, his biggest memory was for the Express when they went to Kearney for a tournament. He said he had one of his best games down there.

                "I remember my freshman year going to Kearney for area and played one of the best games I have played in my life, even with just nine guys, too," he said. "We had just two freshman, three sophomores, and we just all balled it out that weekend."

                This summer, Reisig is ready to play on the new revamped Cleveland Field and the new artificial turf, which is also home the Cougars. He said he can't wait to play on the turf infield.

                "The old field was something else, it wasn't good," he said. "I am excited for turf. It will be fun."

                Reisig plans on majoring in sports medicine when he enrolls at WNCC.

                "I would like to thank God and thank my family; I couldn't have done it without them," he said.