WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE - An admitted “late bloomer,” Titus Lotz is also a Bowling Green commit.

“I always wanted to play college baseball as a young kid but it didn’t start to become realistic until I was 15,” the Washington Court House junior reflected. “I was a late bloomer with kids ahead of me, but I grew and I outworked them.”

He hit 83 on the radar as a freshman.

“My coach said you’ve got a future in this, you’ve just gotta stay healthy,” Lotz noted.

That did not prove to be the case, however, with Lotz shut down in mid-July of last summer with a UCL sprain in the elbow. So Lotz started a workout program while also aiming to put on weight.

“I ate as much as possible, but was eating clean, and I put a lot of weight on,” Lotz said. “I also worked on my curve ball, figuring out different grips, and on my changeup spin, figuring out different grips to try and master.”

Joe Marker and Travis Shaw are credited by Lotz with helping in those aspects and in January Bowling Green became interested.

“They saw a video and liked it,” Lotz related about the Mid-American Conference school. “They called and said for me to come and take a visit and when I did they made an offer. Two or three weeks later I made a decision. It was either wait until summer and possibly get something bigger, but I liked the coaches and went that route. It just felt right.”

Shaw played a role in that as well.

“I heard a lot from Travis who was saying good things about (head) coach (Kyle) Hallock and the program,” Lotz explained. “Their 2023 recruiting class pulled me in. They’ve got some real studs in it.”

Kent State, Wright State, Cincinnati, Central Florida and Towson State were among the many schools with interest in the 6-1 205-pound southpaw, but in the end it was Bowling Green that won out.

“They thought I was a good kid and believe in everything I do,” Lotz said. “They like me because I’m a blue-collar kid. They also like my velo.”

That has now hit 87-89 according to Lotz, who feels that leadership will be a strong quality he can bring to the BG program.

“I lead by example doing the right things and competing,” the 66th-rated 2023 left-handed pitcher in Ohio said.

Physical therapy is the planned major for Lotz, a 3.7 student who is happy the recruiting process has come to an end.

“For me it was really long, it started in the fall of my sophomore year,” related Lotz, who will turn 17 on May 4. “One of the biggest things I learned is don’t get overwhelmed. Try to be humble and keep your nose to the grindstone. I really enjoyed talking to the coaches.”

But there was no better feeling than to make a commitment to a college official.

“It was a sigh of relief,” Lotz said. “But now the work’s just starting. I’m excited about that.”

Lotz looks ahead with anticipation at what lies ahead after his days of playing baseball at Washington Court House are over.

“In high school you don’t compete against Division I hitters all the time,” Lotz concluded. “I look forward to seeing better competition to see where I stand. I’m also looking forward to forming a good brotherhood and meeting new people.”