LOCAL: Former Hawkeye Named UT’s New Baseball Coach

Former Rockridge H.S. and University of Iowa standout Tyson Blaser has been named head baseball coach at United Township H.S. in East Moline.

Blaser, who spent four years in the New York Yankees organization, had been interested in coaching since his playing days at Iowa and thought UT would be a perfect place to begin his baseball coaching career.

“What attracted me to UT was the Big Six. It’s the best baseball in our area,” said Blaser, who was the Quad-City Times 2006 male athlete of the year. “I’m going to be here for the foreseeable future so I want to be coaching at a high level and UT offered me that opportunity.”

Blaser, 27, takes over a Panther program that recently completed a 19-12 season and won nine straight games, seven by shutout, before bowing out to Moline in the regional title game. [Quad City Times]

There aren't too many pro players from this area, so I think this is pretty cool. Go Panthers! -Slater