Michael Bozarth has had an eventful start to his senior year.
Bozarth kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal in Parkway North's season-opening 38-35 win over St. Louis University High two weeks ago. It was his first varsity field goal.
On Wednesday, he made one of the biggest decisions of his young life, a verbal commitment to play baseball at St. Louis University.
"It was just right," Bozarth said.
A 5-foot-11, 170-pound shortstop, Bozarth picked the Billikens after visiting Dartmouth and Columbia over the weekend. He also had a full scholarship offer to Lindenwood.
"Division I is a big thing," he said. "The academics are another thing that went into my decision. My parents really wanted me to go to a good academic school."
Dartmouth and Columbia interested Bozarth, but the lack of financial aid from those schools -- they are not able to offer athletics scholarships -- made the Ivy League a less attractive opportunity.
At SLU, Bozarth found a school with strong academics and athletic programs, as well as facilities close to home.
"It was a good fit all the way around," he said.
It was also a better fit financially, with Bozarth able to receive scholarship money for his academic prowess as well as athletic ability. A senior, he has a 4.07 grade-point average and scored a 29 on the ACT.
"That's really how academics came into my favor," he said. "I received a lot of money in terms of academics for SLU."
As a junior, Bozarth batted .363 (29 hits in 80 at-bats) with four doubles, four home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored, seven stolen bases and a .446 on-base percentage.
He batted .333 (24 for 72) with four doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBIs, 13 runs scored and a .422 OBP as a sophomore.
Bozarth was recruited by SLU as a shortstop, and he credits his St. Louis Pirates summer team coach Rick Strickland for that. Bozarth said Strickland is responsible for helping him transition from playing center field to becoming a shortstop in the past few years.
Bozarth joins a strong local recruiting class for SLU coach Darin Hendrickson. He follows Francis Howell Central catcher Jake Henson, Francis Howell North infielder Braxton Martinez and Pacific left-handed pitcher Josh Moore as Billikens recruits. Verbal commitments are non-binding. High school seniors can make their intent official by signing in November.
"I've played against Jake and Braxton," Bozarth said. "They are good athletes, good players. They have good tools. I think we'll have a good incoming group."
