Dax Bailey signs with OCU baseball

“We then went on our visit in late June (after the state championship game), and he (Lasher) gave us a tour of the campus.”

“Coach Lasher does a really good job of showing the players he recruits how much he wants them to be part of the program,” said Bailey. “He’s always reaching out to me, asking how I’m doing, and that played a big role in my decision. Also, it’s close to home.”

The Bailey family has plenty of ties to the Oakland City community. Dax’s mother, Jennifer, is a Wood Memorial High School graduate, and his father, Roger, a longtime highly-successful coach in the area in both tennis and baseball, served as a tennis coach for WMHS in the 1990s. Also, Dax’s grandfather, David, served as the Principal at Oakland City Elementary for several years.

In addition, “the brand new facility is going to be fantastic,” stated Bailey, speaking of the ongoing upgrades to the baseball facilities at OCU. “I wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted and knew I could make an impact in the future. Some of the current players reached out to me and told me how much they loved it there.”

Along with teammates and classmates Brody Julian (signed with Danville (Illinois) Area Community College) and Drew DuPont (signed with Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois), Bailey signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Oakland City University on Jan. 11. Bailey chose OCU over offers from Wabash College, Rend Lake and Danville.

Bailey, DuPont and Julian have grown up together, on-and-off the baseball diamond, and each of them signed together. Bailey spoke on the significance of them collectively signing their respective National Letters of Intent:

“We started playing together when we were about seven years old,” he said. “We’ve always been best friends and we’ve had our group that plays the same sports. We all play basketball and baseball together, which makes it fun. We’ve grown closer-and-closer over the years, so getting to sign with each other was awesome!”

Though Bailey also had a highly-decorated and successful high school career in tennis, and is an All-Pocket Athletic Conference player in basketball, he intends to focus solely on baseball upon arriving on campus.

“A couple years back, Coach (Colin) Dixon had reached out to me about tennis before I had even thought about playing college baseball.”

“I was going to play tennis, but then after this past (baseball) season, I just decided to focus on baseball (once I get to college).”

Bailey believes he’ll primarily be utilized in a pitching role, but has the ability to play wherever needed to help the team. “I’ll probably be just a pitcher, but if the opportunity arises, I could play first base and hit, as well,” he stated.

Bailey, DuPont and Julian, along with fellow teammates and seniors Conner Anglin (signed with USI baseball), as well as Georgetown (Kentucky) College football commit Chase Jones, form the senior core of the 2023 Tecumseh baseball team, one that reached the 2022 Class 1A State Championship game and will return its entire roster from that team.

Now that they are seniors, Bailey and the Braves are determined to complete unfinished business.

“We have everybody back from last year’s State team,” Bailey said, “and we have gained another year of experience. We also have that experience of already being there (at the State Finals), which will be a big factor. We definitely have the right pieces to go back again this year.”

Bailey started on the mound for the Braves in both the 2022 Semi-State Championship game (went the distance in Tecumseh’s victory over Shakamak) and the 2022 Class 1A State Championship game (pitched six innings of one-earned run baseball against Lafayette Central Catholic).

Overall in his junior season, Bailey pitched 60-and-one-third innings for the Braves (in 14 appearances — 12 starts) and posted a 3.13 ERA, a 5-5 record (against a rugged non-conference and PAC schedule) and struck out 45 batters. He pitched four complete games and had one shutout last season.

Bailey is excited about the recruiting class he is a part of, having already competed with or against several of them in previous years.

“Dru Meadows is from Henderson County (Kentucky). We played summer ball together for the past two years.”

Also, “Kendric Sorgius from Pike Central. He actually played with me, Drew and Brody when we were seven (years old).”

“Kiefer Parsons from (Evansville F.J.) Reitz is a good friend of mine, too. Mick Uebelhor from Southridge (is also part of that class).”

Upon graduation later this year, as well as the completion of the 2023 high school and travel baseball seasons, Bailey will begin preparation for the transition to college athletics and playing for Coach Lasher and the Mighty Oaks.

Upon arrival in August 2023, Bailey intends to major in Biology. “I’m wanting to get that degree and then take it a little further and go to optometry school somewhere,” he said.

“OCU is the right fit for me,” concluded Bailey.