Two of the area’s top baseball products didn’t play high school ball together, but they teamed up this season to do great things at the college level.
Levi Ashmore, a shortstop from Iola, and Nathan Whitcomb, a pitcher from Humboldt, began their college careers at rival schools with Ashmore playing his freshman year at Allen Community College and Whitcomb at Neosho County Community College.
“Nathan and I grew up as a rivalry,” Ashmore said. “I can’t say I really liked him very much because he was pretty good and I always wanted to win.”
After Ashmore’s freshman season with the Red Devils, he took his talents to join Whitcomb in Chanute and after one more season, they both committed to Emporia State University.
“When I got to Neosho, Nathan kind of took me under his wing and showed me the ways. We went to Emporia together and now we are roommates and I don’t have enough good things to say about him. He is going to be one of my best friends for a long time.”
Ashmore started all 58 games for ESU during his junior season this year. He helped lead the Hornets to a 39-19 overall record and a 27-12 league record to finish second in the MIAA.
“I had a lot of fun at Emporia,” Ashmore said. “The team did really well and I had a decent year myself. I was a little too up and down if you ask me, but I was able to get on campus and get my feet wet a little bit.”
The Iola High graduate earned honorable mention all-conference recognition for his contributions. He hit .292 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs for the Hornets.
Whitcomb also was a contributor for the Hornets in their stellar season. The right-hander was a member of the talented Emporia State bullpen.
Whitcomb appeared in nine games for the Hornets and finished the season with a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings of work.
Other area college players include:
Jerrik Sigg
Tabor College
Sigg finished his junior season with the Bluejays batting .333. He started 35 of Tabor’s 37 games.
The Iola graduate was third on the team with 33 RBIs while belting three home runs.
