The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – May 18, 2014 – Ohio University right-handed pitcher Nick Nauracy knows the feeling of frustration that comes with being cut from a high school baseball team.

Nauracy experienced the sensation as a freshman at Crown Point. He felt the frustration again as a sophomore. During his junior season, he was cut from the Bulldogs’ roster for the third consecutive year.

“I was always playing town ball like a normal kid that wanted to play baseball and wanted to get better,” Nauracy said. “In little league, I was a kid on the bench. I played on a couple travel teams and ended up sitting on the bench. I got better and stronger and told myself I could do it.”

Not only did Nauracy make the team his senior year, but he emerged as Crown Point’s ace and helped guide the Bulldogs to a regional title. His persistence has paid off as Nauracy is now playing Division-I college baseball at Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference.

“(Crown Point) coach (Steve) Strayer gave me an opportunity my senior year and I was starting on opening day,” Nauracy said.

Nauracy fired a two-hitter in the semifinals of the 2011 LaPorte Regional to help the Bulldogs upset Penn 2-1. Later that day, Nauracy came on to latch down the save in a 4-2 win over Elkhart Central, sending the Bulldogs to semistate.

Nauracy, now a junior with the Bobcats after starting his college career at Vincennes, has signed to play with the Oilmen this summer.

“I know a lot of the guys on the team and I played with them in high school,” Nauracy said. “It’s a really good experience to be with guys that have the same mindset of getting better and getting stronger. I’m usually six hours away, so this will give family and friends the chance to see me play.”

Nauracy holds a 4.15 earned run average in 17 games with Ohio this season.

Nauracy finished his senior season of high school with a 9-2 record and a sparkling 1.06 ERA. He was named to The Times and Post-Tribune all-area teams in 2011. 

Nauaracy previously played for the Michigan City Lakers, a team that takes on the Oilmen in a series of nonleague games each year. He is especially looking forward to playing with Jimmy McNamara, who he has pitched against in both high school and college. Lake Central and Crown Point are Duneland Athletic Conference rivals, while Central Michigan and Ohio are MAC foes.

“I’m looking forward to playing for the Oilmen,” Nauracy said. “I’m glad I’ve got this opportunity and I want to take full advantage of it.”