Keith Rogalla gives verbal to Creighton

Much like teammate Sam Cottingham-Beard, Keith Rogalla didn’t have to think long before deciding where to play baseball in college.

Rogalla gave a verbal commitment to Creighton, just hours after making an unofficial visit to the school’s Omaha, Neb., campus.

The Oak Park-River Forest right-handed pitcher and first baseman became the second Huskies baseball player to make a Division I commitment in the last month. Pitcher-outfielder Cottingham-Beard said he’s heading to Western Illinois.

Rogalla chose Creighton, which will enter the Big East Conference next season, over Jacksonville, Illinois-Chicago, Binghampton (N.Y.) and Seton Hall.

“The size of the classrooms (at Creighton) will be good for me,” said Rogalla, who hopes to study business. “I really like the coaches. The coaches will be good for me. I like the pitching coach and his philosophy.”

Rogalla will join former Fenwick standout Ryan Fitzgerald, a sophomore infielder from Burr Ridge.

Rogalla has joined a fall baseball team associated with the Cincinnati Reds and will play in tournaments in Iowa, Minnesota and Florida on weekends. Because he’s focused on baseball, Rogalla did not try out for OPRF boys golf team.

Rogalla played third base last spring, but moved to first during the summer league season to replace Nick Kowalczuk, who will attend Michigan this fall.

Another Division I prospect from OPRF, outfielder Alex Rice, has yet to announce where he will play in college after playing for Top Tier over the summer.