Two Barton Community College baseball players know their future for the next couple of years, signing letters of intent to play at four-year schools.         Sophomores Mitch Slauter and Jordan Slade inked the letter on the first day of the early signing period on  Nov. 10.
 Slauter will be headed to Mississippi State University to play NCAA Division-I baseball while Slade signed with Emporia State University — a national power in Division II baseball.

• Slauter
Slauter made his choice of Mississippi State after visiting the University of Illinois-Chicago and Kansas State University. He felt the fit and connection at Mississippi State suited him the best. The Bulldogs play in one of college baseball’s most storied and successful leagues in the Southeastern Conference.
“I really like the coaching staff and it was just a good fit with the team,” Slauter said. “The facilities were outstanding, the environment, it was just a whole new level. It is the highest level to play at in college.”
Slauter, a sophomore from Olathe, handles the catching duties for the Cougars, which was a target of Mississippi State Coach John Cohen. The Bulldogs have two senior catchers this season, which sent Cohen in the junior college ranks for an immediate fix next season.
“We looked at literally dozens of junior college catchers, we knew that was a point of emphasis for next season,” Cohen said. “We felt with Mitch that he has the ability to play at this level behind the plate. You have to process things at a very high level as a catcher. This conference has the most vocal fans in all of college baseball to go along with all the other things a catcher has to process during a game.
“Mitch can receive, he can throw, he can block, and he can handle a pitching staff. He swings the bat very solid for that level. He is just a very solid college catcher.”
During his freshman season at Barton, Slauter hit .343 on the season, leading the team in doubles (12), homers (8), RBI (47) and total bases (102) in 50 games. His .604 slugging percentage was tops on the team, as was his 28 walks.
“He is one in a long line of great catchers we’ve had here,” Barton Coach Mike Warren said. “Mitch may be the most complete. That includes Jeff Christy who played AAA for the Minnesota Twins. Mitch, at this point in his career, is as good, if not better, than Jeff was.”

• Slade
Slade made his choice official as he signed to play with Emporia State Wednesday afternoon. The Hornets were the front-runner all along for the sophomore outfielder from Wichita. In fact, he never made another visit.
“Emporia State was my first visit and I liked what I saw,” Slade said. “I liked Coach (Bob) Fornelli, the players and it just felt like that is where I wanted to play.”
The Hornets have proven to be a national contender year in and year out at the NCAA Division-II level, taking 2nd in the nation in 2009. The Hornets have won the MIAA 3 of the past 5 years and have been Regional Champions 2 of those five  seasons.
As a freshman last season for the Cougars Slade hit .327, led the team in triples (6) and hit by pitches (20). He was second in walks (24), stolen bases (17), total bases (98), and home runs (4).
“The number one thing with Jordan is his ability to play defense and his ability to find a way to get to first base,” Fornelli said. “You add his base on balls (24) and hit by pitches (20) and they are more than his strikeouts (27).
“He is going to be a great outfielder for us. A lot of people don’t realize that the newer bats don’t have the same juice, they are more like wood bats. That really put an importance on playing good defense and covering a lot of ground in the outfield.”
Coach Warren has sent several players to Emporia State — his alma mater — during his tenure at Barton.
“Every player we have gotten from Mike has been a very good player for us,” Fornelli said. “They are always great kids and know the game and are willing to play hard.”
Slade is no different, according to Warren.
“The thing with Jordan is that he has been willing to work hard to get to where he is,” Coach Warren said. “Those things have no rewarded him with an opportunity to play for a Top 5 team and the opportunity to play for a national championship. He will fit in well.”