Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Escanaba senior Grant LaMarche (center) looks up after signing his letter-of-intent to pitch at Northwood University in Midland Thursday in the high school library. Pictured behind him are his father, mother and sister — Ray, Kim and Grayson.

ESCANABA — Grant LaMarche was on the clock as he signed his letter of intent in the Escanaba High School library Thursday. The Northwood University promised pitcher, who signed surrounded by his father, mother and sister — Ray, Kim and Grayson, was on his way to hockey practice.

Multi-sport participation is something that comes with higher skill levels, less injuries and higher sports I.Q. in general, and LaMarche is reaping those benefits through competition in football, hockey and baseball.

“It feels great to have signed at such a great college,” LaMarche said. “It was about a month ago when I finally made the decision.”

Escanaba baseball coach Scott Hanson feels the senior has a bright future ahead of him.

“I’m really proud of him,” he said. “He’s really developed over the years. I think that he’s going to have a great senior year this year, but I also think his best baseball might be at the college level.

“He’s a three-sport athlete right now, so once he focuses in on baseball and starts sports-specific training, I think Northwood’s got a real diamond in the rough. I think he’s going to have a great career there.”

Despite playing a majority of his time at third base and shortstop for the Eskymos, it was pitching that brought the right-hander to the attention of the Timberwolves.

“I went to a prospect camp down at Eastern Michigan (University), and I pitched there,” LaMarche said. “I got a text a few days later, and we just started talking from there.”

In spite of a fastball currently in the mid-80s, Hanson thinks that LaMarche can go further.

“In general, he’s a nice athlete, but I think in the last year or two he’s really taken his athletic ability to the next level,” he said. “He’s always thrown hard. He’s throwing somewhere in the mid-80s now, but I think there’s more in the tank for him during the next couple years at Northwood.”

The health care managment major had prospects other than Northwood, but ultimately decided for the Division 2, GLIAC member University.

“I was also looking at Concordia, but it just felt like Northwood had better options for me,” he said.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound senior logged 30 RBIs, a .270 batting average and 60 strikeouts in 57 innings over his high school career.

LaMarche became the third Eskymo to sign in the last two days after softball players Gabi Salo and Dakota Cloutier signed at the University of Wisconsin and Ferris State University Wednesday, respectively.

“I just want to thank my parents and all the coaches throughout the years that helped me get better,” LaMarche said.