Petrolia's Peter Buckley has committed to play Division 1 baseball for the Fairfield University Stags in Connecticut in 2021. He's earned a combined academic and athletic scholarship.
The 17-year-old right-handed pitcher has tossed 17 innings for The Clubhouse developmental program in Fairfield this year.
Buckley has a 2-0 record with a 0.40 ERA and has allowed just one run while striking out 16 batters.
He's also taking math, business and science classes at Blyth Academy and plans to study business while attending Fairfield U.
Buckley said he's improved greatly over the years and continues to get better.
"It's been a long journey," said Buckley. "I've gained quite a bit of velocity in the past 18 months since I've gotten serious about playing division one baseball. It's five to six days a week of strength training, lifting, long toss and mobility work." His fastball was clocked at 88MPH during a recent live hitter bullpen for Fairfield University.
Buckley started his career with the Sarnia Minor Baseball Association (SMAA), playing t-ball when he was five.
He then pitched and played shortstop for the Wyoming Wranglers who won an OBA provincial championship in 2013.
"I'd like to thank Wyoming Minor Baseball," he said. "This is where my baseball career started for me. This is where I learned the fundamentals to play baseball, and I'd just like to thank them."
He's also played for the Great Lake Canadians which is an elite travel program out of London.
The Stags play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference against teams like Yale, UConn, and Penn State.