Kent State University at Tuscarawas is announcing the signing of two northeast Ohio high school seniors to their baseball team.
On May 30, Levi Belcher and Steven Michniak, from Ravenna High School and Streetsboro High Schools respectively, signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Golden Eagles.
Belcher, primarily a catcher was a four-year letter winner for the Ravens. As a freshman he batted .290 and hit .320 as a junior with a homer. He also threw out 16 runners trying to steal bases and played for the Midwest Stars travel team throughout all of high school.
He will major in business management at Kent State Tuscarawas.
Michniak, a four-year letter winner for the Rockets, is a player with loads of experience in the outfield, as a middle infielder and relief pitcher. As a junior and senior he started in left or centerfield and batted .365 with an on-base percentage of .420 during that span. He was selected as team captain his senior year and his team won a sectional championship. A two-time All-Metro Athletic Conference (MAC) team member, he earned MAC Academic Honors in 2021 & 2022. He owned the lowest strike out percentage on his team at .067% in 104 plate appearances and was the team leader in contact percentage, putting the ball in play .920% of the time. A member of the summer and fall Elite Level travel team for the past four seasons, he also played on the Elite Competitive Tournament Team for eight years. Michniak is a four-year varsity letter winner in cross country as well.
Academically, he carries a 3.65 overall GPA, earned the Perfect Attendance Award for all four years of high school---the only Streetsboro High School student to achieve this honor---and is a seven-time Scholar Athlete in baseball and cross country.
His volunteerism includes assisting in the junior youth baseball program and umpiring for the youth program as well.
He will major in business management at Kent State Tuscarawas.
"We are very fortunate to have players of Levi's and Steve's caliber coming to play for us," said Josh Jarvis, Head Baseball Coach for Kent State Tuscarawas. "Having been battery mates and team mates in travel ball will help ease their transition to our program. They both have loads of baseball experience, but it's their enthusiasm for the game that will have a positive effect on the entire Golden Eagles team."
Kent State Tuscarawas is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
Levi Belcher and Steve Michniak sign their letters of intent to play baseball for the Golden Eagles.