HARLAN -- Harlan Community High School senior Tyler Lefeber (class of 2009) has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at NCAA Division III Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Tyler is the son of Dean and Cindy Lefeber of Harlan (above, standing behind Tyler). At left is HCHS head baseball coach Steve Daeges.

Lefeber considered numerous schools for his educational and baseball future, including Wartburg College in Waverly and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. He also looked at Simpson College, as well as juco programs at Iowa Lakes, Southwestern and Iowa Western community colleges. Lefeber's decision ultimately came down to the coaching staff at BVU - head coach Steve Eddie and assistant coach Ryan Dupic.

"Their pitching coach (Dupic) is a real good guy," Lefeber said. "I went to a couple camps and got to know him real well, and their head coach (has) been watching me since my freshman and sophomore years."

Three of Lefeber's former Cyclone teammates - Mark Blum, Brad Blum and Brett Stein - are currently on the Beaver baseball roster and contributed to an outstanding 2009 season. Buena Vista went 27-14 overall, tying a 29-year-old school record for wins in a season. Lefeber believes the Beavers' success will help them bring in a strong recruiting class.

"I'm looking forward to going up there and seeing how I do," he said. "Hopefully I can do well and we can win quite a few games. I played with (Mark, Brad and Brett) and that kind of helps, and I know quite a few guys that are going up there (as freshmen) from around Iowa and Nebraska."

Lefeber was recruited as a pitcher but figures to help BVU with his bat as well. He is currently 3-0 on the mound for HCHS and sported a batting average near .450 going into the weekend, with four home runs and more than 30 RBI in just 18 games. As a junior last summer, Lefeber finished 10-2 with a sparkling 1.38 earned run average while batting .340 with three homers and 40 RBI.

Lefeber hopes to play his way up to the varsity level as a freshman at BVU. "If I can pitch well, I think I can probably play some, and hopefully work my way up to the varsity and throw quite a bit," he said. "I've just got to earn my way up."

Lefeber has not committed to a major yet, but is considering the field of biology and possibly attending a chiropractic school down the road. (Photo contributed)