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By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports
One Waxahachie baseball alumnus helped comprise the 19-member recruiting class announced Monday by Northwestern State University.
Levi David, a 2017 Waxahachie graduate, signed with the Division-I university in Natchitoches, Louisiana following two years on the diamond at McLennan Community College in Waco. The Demons compete in the Southland Conference.
According to Northwestern State Athletics, the 19-member class marked the third full signing class for NSU head baseball coach Bobby Barbier. The group features a “healthy dose” of left-handed pitchers and hitters and is comprised of junior college and high school arms, as well as one four-year transfer.
David is not one of those lefties.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound McLennan Community College transfer and right-handed pitcher appeared in 11 games during his freshman season and recorded 25 strikeouts over 21.1 IP.
David missed the 2019 season with an injury but did get back on the field in time to play with the Arlington A’s in the DBAT Collegiate League. He will enroll as a sophomore at NSU.
“Levi has a ton of upside,” NSU assistant baseball coach Taylor Dugas told the university’s athletic department. “He’s a big-frame guy with a heavy fastball that has a lot of tilt and a hammer slider that has a lot of depth. He’s someone we’re really high on. Levi has a unique background, having been a high school state championship swimmer in Texas.”
As a member of the Waxahachie Indians baseball club, David was named as the District 14-5A MVP following his senior campaign in 2017.
The recognition came following David’s first full season as a starting pitcher, too. He struck out 101 hitters faced and walked just 35 over 65.1 IP, while also finishing with a 1.33 ERA and 6-2 record after allowing 21 earned runs on the year.
He began the season with a no-hitter against then-state ranked Whitehouse in the annual Dulin Memorial Tournament in Waxahachie.
David slashed .410/.670/1.062 at the plate with a team-best four home runs and 26 RBIs with 21 runs scored during that same senior campaign.
The two-sport athlete also won the 2017 5A state swimming championship in the 50-yard freestyle, ultimately being named a UIL All-American for the effort.
When looking at the class as a whole, Barbier told NSU Athletics that assistant coaches Chris Bertrand, Taylor Dugas and Spencer Goodwin “have done a great job putting this class together.”
“I wish everyone could understand the sacrifices they make to go out and find players that fit what we are looking for in these student-athletes,” the skipper added. “I want to especially thank Lori Bertrand, Brae Dugas, and my wife, Kody, for their patience and understanding the demands of putting together a class like this.
“These 19 student-athletes are taking on the responsibility of carrying out the Demon tradition so many have worked to uphold,” Barbier continued. “We think they fill many needs across the board, especially replacing a pitching staff that graduated seven seniors. These men will be an asset to our school and our community, and I can’t wait for our fans to get to meet them.”
NSU finished the 2019 season with a 30-25 record, which included a 15-15 mark in Southland Conference play. The Demons have not yet released a 2020 schedule.
