Rutherford excited to take next step in baseball career at WashU

Louisburg senior Madden Rutherford recently signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Washington University, a Division III program in St. Louis.

Madden Rutherford had a difficult
decision to make about his college future and it had more to do than with what
school to attend.

Rutherford, who is an All-Frontier
League player in both football and baseball, had offers to play both sports at
multiple schools. The Louisburg senior had played both most of his life and he
had to decide which one to leave behind.

In the end, baseball won out.

On Feb. 26, Rutherford signed his
letter of intent to play baseball at Washington University in St. Louis during
a signing ceremony with family and friends at Louisburg High School.

“It is really exciting now that
everything is official,” Rutherford said. “The recruiting process was long and
hard and really confusing too. I am the oldest kid in my family, so my parents
had never really gone through it before so I am glad it is all over and set in
stone now. I am excited to be going to Wash U.”

The recruiting process weighed on
Rutherford at times as he was trying to find the right sport to play, along
with a school that will provide the right academic future for him.

“It was tough decision, not only
between two or three different schools, but I was deciding between two
different sports as well,” Rutherford said. “I was trying to factor the academic
side of things, how close it was, the money and all those things made the
decision a hard one.

“It’s not that I didn’t like football as much, I just feel that I have better chance to make a career out of baseball and that has been my dream ever since I was a little kid – to play a professional sport.”

Washington University provided
Rutherford with an opportunity to do something that he loves – pitching.
Rutherford has been named to the All-Frontier League second and honorable
mention team the last two years, but last season he wasn’t able to pitch due to
some injuries.

After injuring his thumb during
his past football season, Rutherford is finally healthy and ready to go for his
senior season at Louisburg and as he prepares for his next stop at Wash U.

Madden Rutherford held a signing ceremony on Feb. 26 at LHS after he signed with Washington University. Seated next to Madden (from left) are his father Shane, his brother Meade, his mother Breck and sister Malee. Standing (from left) is Louisburg head coach Kade Larson and former head coach Joel McGhee.

“I’ve played baseball since I was
four and it something I have always loved,” Rutherford said. “I have played a
bunch of sports my whole life, but I am just grateful for the opportunity to be
able to continue to play baseball.

“Being a quarterback too, I have
always just had a knack for throwing things I guess. I have worked really hard
at continuing to be a pitcher and maybe I can make a living at it.”

He will get a good opportunity to improve on a Bears team that is considered one of the top programs in NCAA Division III. Washington is currently the No. 1-ranked team in the country and is a regular in the NCAA Tournament.

“I think Wash U is a perfect balance
between school and sports,” Rutherford said. “They have a very reputable
baseball program, but also I really think that the academic side of it is
really going to challenge me. They have a really successful baseball program,
but it wasn’t necessarily the team’s success that won me over, but all the
success they have had with their pitchers. Last year they were awarded the best
pitching staff in Division III, so that was really enticing to me since that is
what I will be doing there.”

The academic part also intrigues
Rutherford as Washington is considered one of the better academic institutions
in the country and he is looking forward to hitting the books.

“I am deciding between two biology
options right now for my major,” Rutherford said. “I think at this point I want
to enter med school after getting my biology degree, but whatever happens, I
will have a good back-up plan if my athletic career doesn’t work out.”