Prep baseball: Fully healthy Coleman secures future with commitment to WSU

Rehabbing his knee injury never deterred Connor Coleman from a path so many former stars from W.F. West's baseball program have taken.

Have a major impact on the team? Check.

Become a player capable of winning an All-EvCo MVP? Check.

The next home being a Division I institution? Check.

Coleman became the latest Bearcat to continue his baseball career at the next level, committing to Washington State last month. He'll join a Cougars squad that sits two games above .500 and has a signature win over No. 6 Oregon State.

"This program knows how to produce," Coleman said. "It is an honor to be a part of it."

Since his sophomore season, the southpaw has been a staple in W.F. West's lineup. He was a first team all-league outfielder two years ago and a first team utility player last spring. In his most recent outing, he struck out 11 in a league victory over Shelton.

Yet what made his junior season eye-catching was in the fall of 2024, he suffered a season-ending knee injury that sidelined him for the entire football season. Less than eight months later, he was back on the diamond.

Bearcats head coach Jesse Elam stated he "just about fainted" when Coleman texted him he'd be back in time for the home opener.

Looking back, it was only a microcosm of the player the senior has turned out to be.

"He worked his butt off," Elam said. "He put the time in and you can see it paying off."

Coleman never shied away from wanting to return in the best shape possible.

"I always had confidence in myself, there wasn't a doubt in my mind," he said. "If I put in the time, I knew I'd be DI caliber."

He had other schools interested, but constant communication from the Wazzu staff, piloted by head coach Nathan Choate and recruiting coordinator Tommy Richards played a key role in the decision.

Initial interest started over the summer and ramped up by February. After Coleman threw a bullpen in front of the coaches, they offered him shortly thereafter. He committed on March 16.

"They came in pretty hot and moved through the process pretty quick and that was big, showing initiative," Coleman said. "It is a really good fit. It was a quick decision; it all felt right."

He joins some of the stalwarts at W.F. West to continue their baseball career, including Kyle Aselton, Tyson Guerrero, Brandon White and Dakota Hawkins. While never the primary goal, Elam does enjoy seeing guys wanting to keep playing baseball.

"It's always good to be in that conversation with those guys that came through here," Elam said of the past Bearcats.

As Coleman embarks on the last month of his prep career, he's accomplished plenty. W.F. West is on the verge of a second straight EvCo title and would be a favorite to get back to the Class 2A District 4 championship game.

Still, the big trophy - the one that's handed out in Bellingham - remains the one that's eluded Coleman and the Bearcats.

Until this season? Time will tell. Now, Coleman can just freely play the sport he's loved for so long.

"It takes a lot of pressure off it," Coleman said. "It is nice to know you've got a place to go."

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 11:22 AM.