Erwin Signs Letter of Intent on Baseball Scholarship

By David Sharp

Four year starting Brashear Wild Tiger baseball standout Cole Erwin has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend St. Charles Community College on a baseball scholarship.

Cole Erwin follows his older brother Carson Erwin into the ranks of college baseball players. Carson Erwin is currently playing Lincoln University baseball. Cole Erwin is the son of Mike and Sara Erwin of Brashear.

Cole Erwin is a repeat all conference and all district baseball and basketball player. Cole scored 1,500 points playing basketball for Brashear. The Wild Tiger star pitches and catches primarily in high school.

Cole Erwin is expected to be a catcher for the Cougars but may be employed in other positions due to his athleticism and baseball back round.

“There has been a lot of hard work over the last 15 years,” Cole Erwin told the Edina Sentinel after making his commitment official during an April 9, 2026 signing ceremony at the Brashear High School.

“From the first time I played baseball to the last time I played last week, it just takes a lot to go to college, and sign a scholarship to play baseball in college,” Cole Erwin said.

“My dad always talked about baseball,” Cole Erwin said when asked his reasons for choosing baseball over basketball as his college sport.

“We had two hay bales out in the yard that we use as a backstop when we were little kids,” Cole Erwin said. “My older brother (Carson Erwin) started playing the same year I did. He is two years older than me.”

“I got out there and started playing. Have loved the game ever since. It means a lot,” Cole Erwin said when asked about following in his older brother Carson’s footsteps as a college baseball player.

“He went to a Junior College just like I did. Then Lincoln University. It shows me a lot,” Cole Erwin said. “The recruiting process he went through. He knew a lot more about it. He helped me through a lot of that.”

“He knows what college coaches expect out of you and what they expect you to go on the field to keep playing. I had quite a few junior colleges talk to me and shoot me offers,” Cole Erwin said when asked about choosing St. Charles Community College over other baseball programs.

“St. Charles was by far the nicest campus and nicest facilities. They won their region last year. They played my brother’s team last year and beat them. Winning is my biggest thing,” Cole Erwin said.

“If I sit on the bench I don’t care. I just want to win.” Cole Erwin told the Edina Sentinel that he considered five other schools before choosing St. Charles Community College to continue his baseball career.

“We won our district a couple of years ago,” Cole Erwin said. “We lost last year (in the district championship game). I pitched in the district championship game the last three years.”

“We just gotta win out from here.”

Former Brashear baseball coach Jacob Bleything, current Novinger and Brashear baseball players and at least two Schuyler County baseball players were on hand for the St. Charles CC signing ceremony.

Wild Tiger assistant and long time Novinger baseball coach Jason Daniels was also a witness to the college signing.

“We expected this at the beginning of the season,” Brashear/ Novinger head varsity baseball coach Lance Dempsey said. “He was already getting offers from places. This is a very exciting time for our program and for (Cole Erwin).

“He is a heckuva baseball player. He is going to a great program,” Lance Dempsey said of Cole Erwin’s college choice. “A lot of people use that and move on to the next level.

“They are getting a good one too,” Lance Dempsey said of Cole Erwin. “He is one of those overall five tool players. He can play different positions for you. He is going to go (to St Charles CC) as a catcher.”

“If they need him to help out at another position, he could squeeze in possibly,” Lance Dempsey said. “I think he is going to be a very good asset for them. We have only played four games this season and (Cole Erwin) is batting .670. His (on base percentage) is 1.75. So that tells you everything you need to know right there.”

Coach Dempsey was responding to a reporter’s question about Cole Erwin’s value to the Brashear/ Novinger baseball program. “He is our anchor. He has meant the world to us. He is one of the main reasons we are winning right now.”

This is well deserved. He has worked hard,” Lance Dempsey said of the signing. “He has taken a lot of years to get here. Both travel ball and school ball. I’m very proud of him and I couldn’t be happier for him.”