Martinsville pitcher Kevin Reed signs with Evansville: 'It just felt like home'

Martinsville senior pitcher Kevin Reed has anticipated the day he'd officially become a member of a Division I college baseball program for a long time.

Reed, a lifelong baseball fan, started playing at a young age. Why? Well, like many younger siblings, because his older brother, Justin, did. The latter, a former Martinsville standout, is currently a lead contributor for Anderson University's baseball team.

Now it's the youngest's turn as Reed signed his national letter of intent to join the collegiate ranks at the University of Evansville, fulfilling a long-time commitment to the Purple Aces.

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"For it to finally be official is truly a dream come true," Reed said. " It's definitely a goal I have worked on for a long time. I’m very excited for my future as an Ace."

Strengthening the bullpen

Reed is set to join a Purple Aces squad coached by Wes Carroll, who's in his 14th year. Evansville has impressed in consecutive seasons with a combined 60-51 record, including a 32-24 season in 2022 which saw the team defeat a plethora of Power Five programs and upset No. 18 Tulane.

Enduring a host of graduating pitchers, the addition of Reed will be a welcome one for the program. The Martinsville senior pitched with a 2.27 ERA during his junior season in 2022, striking out 94 while allowing 36 hits and 20 runs against 210 batters.

In addition to his skills on the mound, he's also proved important on offense with a .312 batting average, adding 27 runs, 18 RBI's and 7 home runs last season. His efforts earned him an All-State honorable mention and All Mid-State Conference honors.

Adapting to the college game, which runs at a much faster pace, will be a challenge, but it's one Reed is embracing.

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"I’m really looking forward to just playing baseball at such a high level," he said. "I know it’s going to be challenging, but I love the game so much I wouldn’t want it any other way."

Of the things that helped Reed decide to play at Evansville, the atmosphere was one of them. Not just within the recently renovated German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium, but also in the locker room.

"I love the small-school feel and UE’s baseball atmosphere is something special," he said. "On my official visit I was able to sit in the dugout during a game and everybody was having a good time, but still taking the game serious. It just felt like home."

The next step forward

Earning minutes on the mound during his freshman season is certainly something Reed will be working towards, but first he's got duties to fulfill at home before departing 142 miles south.

The Artesians will enter 2023 coming off a season which saw the team go 15-14 and make its way to the sectional championship game, where it lost to rival and No. 3 ranked Mooresville. Reed played a large, if not the largest, role in the team's success, but this season, he wants to will the team even farther.

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"It’s my final year and I want to have a lot of team success this season," he said. "My goal is to help my team win on the mound and with my bat as much as possible, while also holding my teammates accountable and pushing them and in the end, making a long run in the tournament."

Reed's opportunity to do so will start on March 31, 2023, when Martinsville opens its baseball season at the Vincennes Invite.

Contact reporter Devin Voss at dvoss@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @DevinVoss23.