Westminster senior Jacob Turner’s busy summer including pitching for the U.S. 18U National Team and throwing in national all-star games at Dodger Stadium and Wrigley Field.

“I’ve done a lot of stuff,” Turner said. “Probably the coolest thing was being able to play for the USA team. That was a real honor being able to wear USA on your chest and represent your country.”

This week, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-handed pitcher made a big decision, giving an oral commitment to sign with the University of North Carolina.

“I just really liked what they had going with the baseball program and the combination of baseball and academics along with the coaching staff there,” said Turner, who is looking at majoring in business. “I really like what they stand for on and off the field.”

The St. Charles native chose UNC over Vanderbilt. His older brother, Ben, will be a freshman catcher with the University of Missouri this year.

Turner went 5-2 with a 1.45 ERA as a junior at Westminster this spring. In 48 1/3 innings, he struck out 92 batters, walked nine and allowed just 26 hits — holding opponents to a .148 batting average. He also batted .367 with five home runs and 21 RBIs.

He was selected to play for the U.S. 18U National Team at the IBAF World Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada, from July 25 to Aug. 3. In two starts, Turner went 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA. In 10 1/3 innings, he struck out 19 batters and walked just two.

The Wildcats’ ace was picked to play in the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Aug. 9 and broadcast live on Fox Sports Net. Turner started that game for the West squad and struck out five batters in two innings featuring a fastball in the low 90s.

“It was a really cool experience to throw at Dodger Stadium,” he said. “Once I got the jitters out I was OK.”

Turner then pitched in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field on Aug. 17.

His strong performances this summer have made Turner one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in the Class of 2009, just like Holt’s Tim Melville and Highland’s Jake Odorizzi from the Class of 2008.

Odorizzi was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first (supplemental) round, No. 32 overall. Melville, who had committed to attend North Carolina, was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round. Both were given signing bonuses of more than $1 million dollars.

Like Melville and Odorizzi, Turner will be watched closely by major league scouts next spring. The Westminster High righthander knows that could be coming next spring, but he’s been focusing on other things at the beginning of his senior year.

“The last couple weeks I’ve been focused on college,” Turner said. “That’s where my focus still is. The only thing that’s guaranteed to me is a scholarship to North Carolina.”