Republished with Permission by Press Publications
Written by Nathan Lowe    

Clay graduate Drew Kuns had a National Amateur Baseball Federation College World Series to remember in 2010.

A medical redshirt at Bowling Green State University, Kuns caught fire more readily than a gas grill on the Fourth of July, hitting an impressive .500 for the tournament while driving in 10 runs and earning tournament MVP honors for the champion Ohio Monarchs Gold of the Tri-State Collegiate League and Toledo Amateur Baseball Federation.

Kuns, who earned 2009 City League Player of the Year, First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-District and First Team All-City honors for his grim contributions to opposing pitching during his senior season at Clay, saved his best performance for the championship game a season ago, collecting four hits, including a home run and a double, and four RBIs in a 13-5 win over the runner-up Alton Indians (St. Louis, Missouri).

“I was able to put some good, solid swings on the ball last year and had a great four days and won the MVP. The tournament is a lot of fun and you get to play against tremendous competition. It was a great experience.”

A year later and fully healed from an ankle injury that sidelined him for most of his sophomore season at Bowling Green State University, Kuns and his molten iron bat will look to lead the newly renamed Toledo Gold Hawks to their second consecutive NABF World Series championship and third title in four years.

This year’s 27th Annual NABF College World Series presented by Buckeye Cable Sports Network will be held Aug. 4-7 at various greater Toledo area locations, including Rich Arbinger Field at Bowman Park, Owens Community College, St. Francis de Sales High School, Ned Skeldon Stadium and Fifth Third Field.

The semifinals are set for Saturday night, Aug. 6 (4 and 7:30 p.m.) at Skeldon and the final is Sunday at Fifth Third (1 p.m.) barring any weather contingencies. Tickets are $5 for a day pass, $15 for a tournament pass, but there will be no entry charge for the championship downtown.

“We will contend for another one this year. We would be the first team ever to win back-to-back titles. With our pitching, if my teammates and I continue to drive in runs and get timely hits, we will be tough to beat.”

Kuns, who is taking full advantage of much needed at-bats this summer, was moved from his natural position, first base, to left field prior to his season ending injury by 20th-year BGSU baseball coach Danny Schmitz.

“It was a difficult move back in the spring. I had played infield — mainly first base — my whole life and it was tough learning how to play the outfield,” said Kuns, who is studying business at BG. “The team was going to be better off with me in the outfield and I wanted to do whatever was best for the team.”

Prior to his season ending injury for the Falcons, Kuns hit .286 (6-for-21) in eight games and is hitting .258 in 25 career games at BGSU.

“I tore a tendon in my ankle early in the season and it put me out for about 13 weeks,” said the now-healthy Kuns. He is at first base and not left field on a regular basis for Coach Ed Mouch’s Gold Hawks this summer.

“It’s funny,” said Mouch, “because I asked Drew where he wanted to play to get ready for next year and he said, ‘First base because I can’t judge a fly ball to save my life.’ He feels more comfortable at first and thinks he is going to get an opportunity there next year at Bowling Green so that’s where I have been playing him this summer.

“I gradually eased him back into the lineup because of his injury but he has been swinging the bat well since he has come back.”

Swinging well? How about great?

Despite the injury, Kuns is hitting a mind-scrambling .605 (23-for-38) in 16 summer collegiate games with a wood bat and is causing opposing pitchers to agonize more than a Chicago Cubs fan, while giving official scorers carpal tunnel syndrome and opposing managers shin splints from countless teeth-clenching trips to the mound.

“I haven’t missed a beat,” said the 6-foot-2, 190 pound right hander. “I am seeing the ball well and am pleased with my performance at the plate.”

After missing the first several games of the summer season while recovering from his injury, Kuns, who ranks third on the team with 15 RBIs and second on the team with nine doubles despite playing in just 17 of 31 games, has anchored the three spot in the order for the Gold Hawks.

“Being in the middle of the order, it’s extremely important for me to continue to hit well. But, if I don’t, I know my teammates will pick me up.”

Kuns and his teammates have been tearing apart local and regional competition all season long and are currently in first place in both the Tri-State Collegiate League and the Toledo Amateur Baseball Federation with a combined record of 18-6 in league play. Although there is still some work to be done to clinch yet another berth to the NABF World Series, Coach Mouch likes his team’s chances to repeat.

“As long as we play the way that we have been of recent, we should be back in the World Series. We haven’t officially clinched anything as of yet but we are heading in that direction. We would like to finish first in both of the leagues we are in but still have some work to do.”