Rutherford looking forward to joining Rockhurst baseball program

Baseball has been a part of Meade Rutherford’s life for as long as he can remember and he isn’t ready for it to be over any time soon.

The Louisburg High School senior has always wanted to play in college and it was all about finding the right fit. 

Rutherford found it in Rockhurst University as he officially signed his letter of intent last November to join the Division II program.

“It meant the world to me knowing that all the hard work and effort put in by me, my parents, and my coaches payed off,” Rutherford said. “Playing college baseball was my No. 1 goal and I’m glad I could meet it.”

Rutherford, who was an honorable mention All-Frontier League player last season as a junior, helped the Wildcats both on the mound and in the field. It is that aspect that was important to him as he moved onto the college stage.

Rockhurst is providing him the opportunity to do both and it was one of the many reasons why he decided to join the Hawks program.

“Rockhurst is the perfect school because it checks off a lot of boxes,” Rutherford said. “It’s close to home, it has a nice campus, and has reputable baseball program. 

“Rockhurst is giving me a 2-way opportunity, which is exactly what I was looking for in a home. I’m going to work as hard as I can to earn a spot on the field as soon as possible whether that’s pitching, or hitting/outfield.”

The history of the program was also something that stuck out to Rutherford as he will play under coach Gary Burns, who has been at the school for 30 years, and has guided the Hawks to 16 postseason appearances. 

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know the coaches at Rockhurst,” Rutherford said. “Coach Burns has led the program for 30 years now and I’m excited to learn a lot. The team had quite the gain in wins last year and I’m looking forward to contributing to that success.”

Rutherford and the Wildcats had a lot of success of their own last season as they won the program’s first regional title in 15 years and earned a spot at the state tournament.

He played a big part in that role as he was the team’s No. 2 starter as Rutherford earned the win in the regional championship game against Wamego. He, and the rest of the Wildcats, are hoping for even more success in his final season.

“Louisburg had a historical season last year, and it was awesome to be apart of it,” Rutherford said. “I think that with the coaches and players we have, we could make another deep run this year.

“I’ve played baseball my whole life. The journey has been unforgettable with the traveling, the memories, the teammates, and the coaches. It also included overcoming adversity, which is what baseball is all about.”