MIDDLETOWN - The quarantine worked out very well for Carter Earls.

Uncertain where his future would take him at the time high school baseball was cancelled in the spring, the Bishop Fenwick senior-to-be now has his plans mapped out after a commitment to the University of Cincinnati.

“The quarantine was tough for everybody, but I made the most of it,” explained the 89th-ranked uncommitted 2021 player in the state prior to his decision to be part of the American Athletic Conference program. “I saw it as an ally of mine and focused on the thing I love. I improved my mechanics and strengthened my body. It was kind of a buddy of mine.”

Once back on the field, the results from hard work during the quarantine were obvious.

“My first game back from the quarantine I hit 86,” noted the 6-3 195-pound southpaw, who had a top velo of 83 at the Top Prospect Games last summer. “It was the first time I had done any in-game throwing and I was really happy. I’m a three-sport guy but the quarantine allowed me to get after it for baseball, to better my mechanics and strengthen my body.

“The next week I hit 88.5. I was ecstatic when that happened. My pitching coach gave JD (Heilmann, Cincinnati assistant coach) a call and he wanted me to send as much velo video as possible. A teammates’ dad filmed me the next weekend and I threw well.”

Interest from Cincinnati increased in Earls, who had an offer from Indiana Wesleyan and was talking with Dayton, Xavier, Stanford, Cornell, Penn, Columbia, Ohio State, Wofford and Eastern Michigan.

“They wanted to talk scholarship,” Earls related. “I asked them to give me a couple of hours to think it over and a couple hours later I said I was ready to become a Bearcat.”

That is something the 17-year-old had wanted for quite a while.

“I’ve wanted to play college baseball my whole life,” Earls said. “When I was three I told them I was four so that I could play T-Ball. Ever since I’ve wanted to play D-I baseball. My dad said he saw something different in me and I took it to heart. He’s my biggest fan.”

Cincinnati took notice last September.

“That was the first time they could talk to you,” explained Earls, who had attended a camp at Cincinnati prior to the fall of 2019. “They said they like my projectable frame. I’m big and I wasn’t throwing as hard. They wanted me to get my velo up. They said we like you and want to keep you on our radar. I kept in touch with them with small conversations.”

While pitching is a given, the left-handed hitting outfielder also has aspirations of being a two-way player.

“I did both at their camp,” Earls pointed out. “I talked with them about how they saw me as a two-way guy and they said they’ve had successful guys do it in the past  They said if it doesn’t work out we’ll definitely make you a pitcher.”

But Earls, who has a 4.3 GPA taking all honors classes and scored 28 on the ACT, is working hard to get the job done in the field as well as on the mound.

“Last year I was struggling at the plate so I took some time off,” reflected Earls, who has decided on a pre-med major. “After the break I started hitting it well and brought that into this year. Some see me as a pitcher, but I love to see myself as a baseball player. I love the game and want to do everything I can that consists of baseball, not just PO. My dream is to play baseball at a Division I school.”

Earls believes he can provide a lot to the Cincinnati program.

“I love to get after it and I’m loyal,” Earls said. “Doing it on two sides of the ball, I can help make the program better.”

Staying near home is a plus in the eyes of Earls.

“I love Cincinnati and the area around it,” Earls noted. “Not only is it close to home, but I have friendships with the people there. The coaching staff really wants to invest time into making you a better player and get you ready for the next level. I love the staff and I love the school and I can’t wait to be part of that team.”

A sense of relief comes with the decision to become a Bearcat.

“I can’t even explain it,” Earls said. “The last couple of weeks have been mostly stressful. Am I going to find a home to play the game I love? To have found that, with a coaching staff that I love, is incredible.”