For Muldrow Bulldogs senior baseball player Colton Pulliam, all it took to win him over with the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers was coach Ryan Bowen, a former Carl Albert State College assistant coach to legendary CASC coach Mark Pollard.
Pulliam knew he wanted to play for Bowen and the Rangers, so he made that a reality when he signed his letter of intent with NWOSU, located in Alva, in a signing ceremony last Wednesday afternoon at Roger Sharp Activity Center.
“It was definitely the coach (Bowen),” Pulliam said. “I love the coach. He liked everything about me. The campus felt like home. Everybody knows everybody up there. There’s great connections.”
While one other school did stand out, it was Bowen and his coaching staff that won over the Bulldog senior baseball player.
I had a couple other offers,” Pulliam said. “Mid-America (Christian University in Oklahoma City) was definitely a top two, but the (NWOSU) coaching itself just really rolled it out (to help choose the Rangers).”
“It couldn’t happen to a better kid,” said Zane Rose, Pullian’s Muldrow baseball coach. “He worked his way into this. It wasn’t handed to him. I’m proud of him for that. I’m absolutely excited and over the moon for him. He’s a great kid with great parents. (NWOSU) couldn’t get a better kid.”
Pulliam is hoping to make an impact upon arrival at the Alva Division II school.
“Hopefully, I can get up there and show the coaches what I’m made of, and everything works out,” he said.
“There’s no doubt in my mind they’re getting a good one,” Rose said. “It won’t be long, and he’ll be earning playing time. I promise you that.”
Pulliam said he will have to get used to the close to five-hour drive.
“I’m concerned a little bit,” he said. “My parents (Vernon and Rhonda Pulliam) have offered to drive me down and back a few times so I can get used to the driving (distance). Other than that, I think I’ll be all right.”
Just getting to fulfill a dream to play college baseball is a special one for Pulliam.
“Being able to play the game I love means a lot,” he said. “I’m very excited. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it.”
There’s no doubt the ’Dogs are going to miss Pulliam.
“I’d like to take him and a couple of the other (seniors) and have them back next year, but it’s a natural progression,” Rose said. “They don’t sign contracts. You don’t get to keep them, but I’l always have him as a friend — whether he’s still my player or not.”
Pulliam’s signing is the second of the Class of 2024 as he joined Reid Sutton, who signed with Seminole State College back in December.
“Both these kids do things the right way,” Rose said. “They have earned their way (to playing college baseball). They are absolutely baseball junkies.”
Pulliam’s signing was just one of three that took place during last Wednesday afternoon’s signing ceremony as senior basketball player Kennedi “Kiki” Wight signed with the University of the Ozarks and senior Cailey Grinstead signed a volleyball letter of intent with Missouri State-West Plains. Muldrow High School Athletic Director Jana Armer said these kinds of opportunities for student athletes to get to make it to do the same thing in college in special.
“There’s just a small percentage of kids that get to go on after high school, so to be in that percentage, it’s saying big things for all three of them,” she said.
