Daniels commits to play for Hawkeyes

CEDAR RAPIDS - Zach Daniels admits to being a longtime University of Iowa fan.

He also has a history with his father, Mark, and three siblings of his mother, Colleen, attending Iowa.

So, it seemed natural that the Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior would take his baseball talents to Iowa City. Daniels confirmed Monday that he has verbally committed to play for the Hawkeyes and head coach Rick Heller.

'I really like the coaching staff and they have a good track record,” Daniels said. 'I grew up being a Hawkeye and people in my family went to Iowa.”

Daniels was a Class 4A first-team all-state selection by the Iowa Newspaper Association. He helped guide the Cougars to the state tournament, pitching and playing second base. Daniels posted an 8-1 record with a 1.01 earned-run average last season. He also hit .467 with 32 runs batted in, 37 runs and 22 stolen bases, leading the Cougars with 57 hits. Daniels was Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division Player of the Year for division champion Cougars (31-7, 22-4).

Daniels has talked to Iowa coaches about pitching with the exact role to be determined. He might get the chance to play second, but would then be limited to relief. He said he will fill any role for the team.

'No,” Daniels said about his position preference. 'Whatever they have me do is fine with me.”

Daniels considered a couple other in-state schools and Illinois State and St. Louis University were planning to watch him pitch this month. He said he liked the fact he could stay close to family.

'My parents have always come to my games and supported me,” said Daniels, who was happy to make his decision so he can focus on fall baseball and the upcoming basketball season. 'It will be nice not being far away so they can come watch my games.”

The Hawkeyes went 30-23 last season under Heller, recording the most wins since 2010. Iowa reached the Big Ten Conference postseason tournament. The results were as strong of an influence as Heller, who Daniels said has made an effort to recruit the state's top baseball talent.

'He has turned it around and going in the right direction,” Daniels said. 'I believe in the next couple years things will really take off.”

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