Rob Reinstetle has Jason Candle of all people to thank for securing a commitment from freshman wunderkind Garret Pike.
Pike, who excelled at Anthony Wayne as the school’s starting quarterback, flirted with the idea of playing in college. When Reinstetle asked Candle about Pike’s Division I prospects, Toledo’s football coach told the university’s baseball coach that college baseball was in Pike’s future.
“That made it easier to sell to him not to worry about football. Enjoy it in high school, but come play college baseball,” Reinstetle said.
The third-year UT coach stumbled upon Pike soon after arriving in northwest Ohio and was immediately taken by the left-hander’s ability to hit for power, but also spray the ball in the gaps.