I-S senior to play Division 1 baseball
By Holly Neumann
Connor Kurki is taking his baseball skills out east.
The Iola-Scandinavia High School senior signed his National Letter of Intent Nov. 13 to play Division 1 baseball at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina.
“I chose Coastal Carolina because they are a top program,” Kurki said. “I got along with the staff very well and could easily see myself playing there.”
The relationships Kurki formed through baseball have been some of the high points of his athletic career, which include quarterbacking the Thunderbirds to a Division 6 state football championship last year.
“Not only just in Iola-Scandinavia, but on the summer teams that I have played for,” he said. “Getting to know a lot of people through baseball and build friendships is cool.”
Playing on the T-Birds’ state-qualifying baseball team as a freshman is another highlight.
Kurki has been recognized as an all-conference baseball player and was also selected to play at the Prep Baseball Report Futures games, where Coastal Carolina scouts first saw him play.
Coastal Carolina plans to use Kurki as a pitcher.
“Moving on to play at the collegiate level is a blessing,” he said. “The thing I’m most excited about is being able to take my talents to the next level and grow tremendously as a player,” he said.
Kurki credited Kyle Knudson for being the biggest influence in his baseball career.
“Not many people know him, but he was my summer travel coach during my 16-U season,” he said. “I trained with him and he took me to the next level. The things he taught me about the game have helped me tremendously. He helped me get recruited by many schools. He was more than a coach for me.”
Kurki, the son of Darin and Joy Kurki of Iola, plans to major in business administration and management.
“My end goal following college is to get drafted and pursue a professional career,” he said.