Busby signs NLI to join Western baseball

By Jacob Meikel

East Buchanan senior Gage Busby had his choice of where he wanted to go to college for athletics, and ultimately decided to join a thriving Western baseball program.

Busby kept himself busy in high school, participating in four different sports throughout his four years, which includes baseball, football, track and basketball. As a two-time state championship quarterback for the East Buch football program, Busby said he had attended football camps and it opened the door for him to potentially play college football. Busby suffered elbow injuries his freshman and junior years, which could have put his potential to play college baseball at risk, but Western decided to take a chance on the senior and that’s where his talents will be taken.

“Baseball is still what I love the most,” Busby said. “Coach [Damian] Stambersky and Coach [Derek] Watkins really made it seem like this is a program to be. We’re going to have fun. We’re also going to be successful. We’re also going to be disciplined, so they just made it appealing to me.”

Busby was accompanied by his mother and father as he signed his national letter of intent on Tuesday morning inside the East Buchanan High School gymnasium. Busby also mentioned the short distance from Western to Gower and his family was also a selling point for him.

Being 20 minutes away from home is pretty nice, so if I ever need my parents for anything, I can run home whenever the time is,” Busby said.

The Bulldog senior will join a Western baseball program that has won three series and split another this season. The program is in its early stages under head coach Damian Stambersky, who was hired in May of 2023 after long-time head coach Buzz Verduzco decided to end his tenure with the Griffons.