Derek Bycroft won back-to-back Kansas 4A pitcher of the year awards as a junior and senior at Iola High School. He also was a key cog in Iolas quest to its first 4A-II state championship in 2018.
Now, Bycroft is on the mound in Bartlesville at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. While the former Iola ace hasnt had his first formal season yet, he has had a taste of college baseball with the Eagles fall season.
It is fun, a lot of fun, Bycroft said. There is a ton of guys there, and everyone is cool. It is a completely different feel from high school, and even Legion ball. Everyone there is competing for a spot, with almost 60 guys on the team.
The difference between high school and college ball is the level of competition, Bycroft said.
A lot of the freshmen are like me, they have potential but arent fully developed yet, Bycroft said. But then you see some of those upperclassmen, who are ripped and hitting 400-ft. bombs in batting practice. It is cool to watch and be around those guys.
At the start of the fall season, Bycroft said his hitting was in something of a slump. By seasons end, however, he had figured out his swing. With the glove, Bycroft feels he measures up, but still lacks the athleticism to make the toughest of plays to be inserted in the lineup as a freshman.
Pitching wise, Bycroft has himself in the mix.
I felt like I hung in pretty well with the older pitchers, Bycroft said. I definitely dont throw as hard as some of them, but I feel like my off-speed pitches are just as good and I keep hitters off balance. As a freshman, I feel Ive done pretty well so far, but I obviously still have a long way to go.
With a loaded roster, Oklahoma Wesleyan fields junior varsity and varsity teams. At the moment, Bycroft said the coaches see him earning time at the JV level, but believe he has the potential to reach varsity play. The Eagles are loaded with talent. A season ago, Oklahoma Wesleyan finished the season 58-8 and were crowned champions of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
They were saying that I have a lot of potential, and can hang with the guys they have, Byrcroft said. I just have to develop a little bit more in the weight room, and add some velocity to my fastball. I think they were excited, and I am, too.
Along with the high level of competition, Bycroft points out the difference in chemistry between high school and college. As a Mustang, many of his teammates had been friends since childhood. In college, of course, Bycroft is meeting his teammates for the first time.
Also, with family in Bartlesville, Bycroft is living off campus, which makes it a bit more difficult to engage with his Eagle teammates.
Right now, some of those guys are getting really tight. So Im a little bit slower at developing those deep relationships you have in college, Bycroft said. Those friendships though, I am getting there. Ill go back to campus sometimes and play pick-up basketball, and they are all really chill and will invite me to the dorms afterward. It is fun and cool to meet new guys.
Constructing friendships and making a strong first impression on the field were not all of Bycrofts first semester activities. He also had to learn how to find success in the classroom. Bycroft enrolled in a government class, literature of the Old Testament, intro to physical education, and the call to teach.
As Bycroft progresses to earn his four-year degree, he plans to focus his career in teaching along with becoming a coach. So far, he feels he is on the right path.
