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Dennis Semrau

Wissports.net

 

And then there was one.

 

The Whitefish Bay senior trio of Kevin James, Charlie Knipper and Charlie Markson not only left their mark on Blue Dukes academics and athletics over the past four years but they have a bright future, too.

 

James, who pitched and played first base and the outfield, signed to play baseball at Boston College, while Markson, an outfielder, shortstop and pitcher, will play baseball at Notre Dame. Knipper, an outfielder and pitcher, opted to play football at Iowa.

 

Knipper, who batted .438 with 37 runs scored and 29 RBI, switched gears quickly last month after Whitefish Bay ended its season in the sectional finals with a 27-11 record. He has reported to Iowa City where he is involved in preseason drills with the Hawkeyes, who signed the 6-foot-4, 220-pound offensive lineman as a long snapper.

 

But Knipper s former baseball teammates have had another decision to make before becoming full-time college student-athletes.

 

Both James and Markson were selected in Major League Baseball s First-Year Player draft in June – James in the ninth round by Tampa Bay and Markson in the 44^th round by Detroit,

 

Markson (pictured at left) confirmed Tuesday night that he will indeed attend Notre Dame this fall to study business and play baseball. He is due to report to South Bend on Aug. 20.

 

"I thought about playing pro ball but I knew pretty much all along I was going to school," said Markson, who batted .486 with 24 runs scored and 26 RBI and also was 2-1 with two saves and a 3.59 ERA in nine appearances on the mound.

 

"Notre Dame is a great fit for me. I like the challenge of the academics, the opportunity to play baseball and the school s tradition. It wasn t a difficult decision to make."

 

James, though, admitted Tuesday that he is still pondering his decision.

 

"I have until Aug. 17 to sign otherwise I go back into the draft for next year so I should have a decision by Monday," said James, who batted .454 with 37 runs scored, 10 home runs and 41 RBI as an outfielder and first baseman.

 

But James was drafted mainly due to his pitching skills. Whitefish Bay s ace, the left-hander finished with a 7-3 record and a stellar 0.77 ERA in 14 appearances. He tossed three complete games and had four saves with 124 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.

 

"I keep going back and forth, one day I want to play pro ball and the next I want to go to college and play," James said. "It s been a tough decision."