MCCORDSVILLE — Playing a lot of positions has put Mt. Vernon’s Nolan Bowser in a great position.
It’s one that will lead him to play baseball at the collegiate level.
The Class of 2020 senior recently made a verbal commitment to play college baseball for Division I St. Louis University, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
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“I think they saw a player that works hard, doesn’t give up, works with the team and will play anywhere to get on the field,” Bowser said.
He’s a Jack-of-all-trades, wears a lot of hats, a Swiss Army knife.
Basically, he’s very talented and versatile.
With Mt. Vernon, Bowser has mostly played in the infield. This past season he was primarily a shortstop with some time at second base. During his sophomore year he played a lot at third base. He has the ability to be a catcher, but that’s a position the Marauders have plenty of, including recent Purdue commitment Jake Stadler and 2019 grad Sam McCarty (Huntington University).
With his summer team, the Indiana Bulls, Bowser has been playing catcher, the outfield and some third base.
St. Louis, Bowser said, sees him as a catcher, outfielder and corner infielder.
The versatility goes with the batting order, too. At Mt. Vernon, Bowser is a leadoff hitter. For the Bulls, he has usually hit No. 5, No. 6 or No. 7 in the order.
The Billikens don’t know where he will hit in their lineup. They just know they want him in the lineup.
“They said I could play anywhere. They just want to get my bat in the lineup,” Bowser stated on St. Louis’s plans. “I looked at my parents (when they said that). I could tell they meant it. That was one of the main parts in sealing the deal.”
Bowser said his capability to play a lot of positions goes back to when he first started playing baseball.
Growing up playing ball as part of the Oaklandon Youth Organization, he was a member of the Oaklandon Bombers.
“They would put us anywhere,” he recalled. “I remember going from first base, then second base, then third base all in one game.
“I always felt it helps a lot to be able to play a lot of positions.”
It’s definitely been the ticket for Bowser.
He’s more than just a guy that can play a lot of spots. There’s a reason the Bombers, Marauders, Bulls and, in the future, Billikens, like Bowser’s versatility.
He hits well and runs fast.
This past high school season with Mt. Vernon, Bowser hit .352 with team-best totals in on-base percentage (.514), stolen bases (20), runs scored (28), bases on balls (17) and plate appearances (74).
He was named All-Hoosier Heritage Conference and All-Hancock County, leading the county in stolen bases and ranking second in runs scored.
His offensive versatility was on display in an early season HHC doubleheader at Shelbyville.
As a leadoff hitter for the Marauders, Bowser reached base his first eight plate appearances and was retired just once (by fielder’s choice in his final at-bat) during the team’s twinbill sweep.
He had four hits, drew four walks, scored seven times, stole four bases and had a pair of RBIs.
“He is so athletic and incredibly competitive,” said Bowser’s high school coach, Ryan Carr. “He’s got it all.”
With St. Louis, Bowser would be going to a program that has had success.
SLU head coach Darin Hendrickson became the school’s all-time winningest coach in 2018 and has been at the helm since 2008. He’s taken the Billikens to three NCAA regionals, most recently in 2018. Since 2010, St. Louis has won five conference regular-season crowns and three A-10 tournament titles.
Bowser said the campus is in downtown St. Louis, but it had a “country” feel.
“It felt like home and the coaches were really great,” he said.
Home on the diamond can be at a number of different spots for the Marauder standout. He said he really likes catching and playing third base, but doesn’t have a preference in position.
Bowser knows being a utility player has been a big key in his success and given him a great opportunity for his future.
“As long as I’m on the field, I like playing anywhere,” he said.
