Reed High senior Casey Yocom honored the Raiders’ athletic department Thursday by signing to join the Western Nevada College baseball team.

“They called me up and thought I was a good player,” Yocom said. “They invited me down for a workout … a little bit after that they called and offered me a scholarship.”

Yocom was offered a full-ride scholarship by WNC to become the shortstop for the Wildcats. The scholarship will take care of next year’s costs from tuition to books, everything with the exception of housing.

“I didn’t really have to think about it,” Yocom said. “I knew it was the right decision. It just felt right.”

His dad, Todd Yocom, agreed.

“It’s going to be a good fit for Casey,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation for WNC and for Casey. It’s a great opportunity for him to go do that.”

Casey Yocom has been a big factor in the Reed football and baseball programs and after the spring baseball season, he will have earned six varsity letters.

“He probably would’ve had eight if he had stayed with basketball,” Reed Athletic Director Jaime Felten said while introducing Yocom and his family to the crowd.

WNC was the only school to approach him, making his collegiate choice a fairly easy decision, Yocom said.

“I thought about playing both, but that would be a lot of work,” Yocom said. “So I just decided to stick with baseball.”

The Yocoms are happy that Casey will be less than an hour away and said they will be at every home game.

“Every in-town game we’re going to go to, absolutely,” Todd Yocom said. “Grandparents, moms, dads, uncles, aunts, exactly.”

“I’m just excited because I’ve always had that dream as a little boy to go play after high school somewhere,” the younger Yocom said. “I’m just excited that I’m still going to be playing and hopefully get to a Division 1 school.”

After fulfilling his time in community college, Yocom would like to continue at a four-year university. If he could pick any school to go to, he would go to national collegiate baseball power California State University, Fullerton.

“It’s just in California, warm weather,” he explained. “I’ve grown up watching them on TV and just liking the school.”

Casey and his family are really looking forward to the rest of his high school career, finishing his baseball season at Reed, along with a summer travel team.

“I’m actually really excited about this season,” Yocom said. “We’ve got a new coaching staff (at Reed) coming in so I’m really excited about this year.”