WEST HAVEN, Ct. - The decision to give up catching proved to be a good one for Nick Hunkele. The Notre Dame West High School senior is now a two-way commit to Merrimack as a pitcher and outfielder.

“I used to be a catcher,” the 37th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in New England related. “Junior year was the first year I transitioned into being a pitcher and focusing on that.”

Merrimack saw the 5-11 180-pounder throw as well as hit at an All-Star Game the middle of June and interest in the 29th-ranked Connecticut senior began.

“He liked the fact that I was an athlete first,” explained Hunkele in reference to Merrimack head coach Brian Murphy. “He said I was talented on the mound but he could tell I was an athlete and able to do other things than just be a pitcher.”

Credit for making the decision to move away from behind the plate goes to coaches for the CT Grind.

“I always caught and pitched, but that wasn’t the best for my arm,” Hunkele noted. “My travel team head coach Mike Moras and coach Garrett Walker said in looking at your skills, you have a better opportunity at the next level as a pitcher/outfielder than catcher and I trusted them.”

The chance to do both at Merrimack helped sell Hunkele.

“That was another huge thing,” the 17-year-old said about what helped sway his college decision. “I enjoy being two-way, it means I can help my team win every single day. I want to help my team win every game. Coach Murphy said it wasn’t a sure thing, but he’s willing to give me a chance and that I was talented enough to be given a shot at two-way.”

There was more that stood out about Merrimack to the 100th-rated 2023 in New England.

“My whole thing is I didn’t want to go to just a good baseball school or just a good academic school,” Hunkele explained. “I wanted both. From my visit and in talking on the phone, he was very personable. They’re new to D-I and I want to help them take the step to being a powerhouse.”

Sacred Heart was the only other college to give an official offer to Hunkele, who went to check out Merrimack in late July.

“When I went on my visit I saw that he was a great guy and he gave me the time I needed to make a decision,” Hunkele said.

A commitment ended a recruiting process that was benefited by both PBR and the CT Grind.

“Every year since my freshman year I went to Scout Day with my travel team,” Hunkele reflected. “Trevor Brown (PBR Connecticut Director of Scouting) definitely supported me a lot at those. He’s a great guy and he even made comments when I caught that he wanted to see me on the mound. PBR really helped in getting my name out there.”

The decision did not come without some anxiety.

“This last summer was very stressful for me,” Hunkele admitted. “It’s obviously the next four years of your life. It’s probably the most stressful thing I’ve done in my life. I tried to enjoy it the most I could and I’m happy how it turned out.”

Once pitching became the focus, improvement on the mound proved helpful.

“My freshman year I sat 80 at tops,” Hunkele said. “When I made the switch to Grind for travel ball that helped with having good mentors. My high school pitching coach Mike Antonini also coaches with the Grind and he put in a lot of hours with me. Mentally, I had work to be done on the mound being a new position and not being as comfortable and I made a lot of good strides.”

A major in “something like sports medicine” is being considered by Hunkele, a 4.1 student who believes he can make a big impact in the Northeast Conference program.

“I compete every day and I know that no matter what is going on I’ll go 100 percent on the field and be someone that my teammates say ‘this guy has my back and will put everything out there.’” Hunkele said.

Admittedly, making a commitment was very memorable.

“It’s probably the happiest I’ve been, one of the top moments in my life,” Hunkele pointed out. “Since forever I’ve wanted to play at the highest level I can and Division I college baseball is it. Looking back, all the work I put in made for a surreal moment.”

The future brings excitement as well to the 13th-ranked senior right-handed pitcher in Connecticut.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the guys and having a new family for the next four years,” Hunkele concluded. “I’m fortunate to have that at my high school and having a new family in college is something I look forward to.”