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For a year, Ross Vagedes was an outfielder, good enough to be named to the All-Horizon League Newcomer team.

Then, as a sophomore, new Wright State coach Rob Cooper asked Vagedes if he wanted to pitch, too.

"He's got an arm," Cooper said. "It was 94 (mph) off the mound. And Ross may be one of the most unselfish players I know. He could have had all kinds of records here as a hitter, but we figured his future was on the mound."

Vagedes had always been an outfielder at Tippecanoe High School, in part because he could hit, in part because he was a little wild on the mound.

"When they wanted to turn me into a pitcher at Wright State, I told them how wild I was," Vagedes said. "They told me it was my best shot at the pros."

While his average suffered a little — it dipped from .296 to .253 — Vagedes was 4-3 with a 4.67 ERA as a sophomore and the experiment to turn him into a pitcher seemed to be working.

Then, near the end of the 2005 season, his arm began to hurt a little, and in 2006, he pitched in four games until he had to shut it down.

"I had to have shoulder surgery," Vagedes said. "I red-shirted and came back last year, but it didn't seem the same. I didn't have the same pop on the ball, and my arm didn't feel as good."

When the season was finished, Vagedes asked if he could move back to the outfield, and did.

As a full-time outfielder, Vagedes is hitting .326 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 38 games. He says his arm feels great.

Tonight, April 30, he expects to be in the lineup as the Raiders host UD at 6:30 at Nischwitz Stadium on Military Appreciation Night, and he hopes to be in the lineup if his team makes the NCAA tournament again, too.

Two years ago, the last time the Raiders went to the NCAA, Vagedes was out with his injury. He went to the tourney, but couldn't play.

"I felt a part of it, but not really a part of it," Vagedes said. "I want to get back there and be able to play."

Amazing statistics

Here are some stats you don't see very often. In last week's three games, softballer Jherica Williams was only 1-for-5, but compiled a whopping .750 on base percentage. How? She was walked seven times and hit by a pitch four times.

It appears opponents are afraid to pitch to her. Williams leads the Horizon League with a .479 batting average, .925 slugging percentage and .564 on base percentage. She also has 13 home runs and 63 RBIs.

Hoop camps starting

Yep, it's basketball camp time again.

Men's coach Brad Brownell has two sessions, June 23-26 and July 14-17, open to boys age 7 through seniors for the first session, 7 through completion of eighth grade for the second session. Call (937) 775-2835 for more information.

On the women's side, the sessions are June 16-19 and July 28-31. Both are open from grades K-eighth. Call (937) 775-3351 for more information.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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