ST. LOUIS — Craig McGee can pinpoint the exact moment he knew that he had some talent for baseball.
The now-senior Lutheran North pitcher/outfielder remembered the metallic crack of the bat and the rush of adrenaline as the ball flew over the fence.
That was his second varsity at-bat as a freshman.
"I knew then that his baseball thing is something I should take seriously," McGee said.
It got even more serious for the senior Wednesday as he signed his letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
"It feels great," McGee said. "I know I'll be part of a team that will nurture me and helps me grow, so I feel great that I'll become a great person and as great of a baseball player that I can be."
For a school known for its dominance in football, to see one of his baseball players sign his letter was an exciting one for the athletic director and baseball coach Jon Mueller.
"It's great to see his dream gets achieved through this," Mueller said.
McGee's recruiting process was a short one.
The 6-foot-1 right-hander felt at home on the UMSL campus that is less than five miles away from the Lutheran North. When the Tritons' coaching staff came calling, McGee didn't let the opportunity pass.
"They were really high on me and it made me feel good about myself," McGee said. "They were my first offer, and they made me feel at home, so I went with them."
UMSL baseball has not recorded a winning season since 2016 and hasn't made the GLVC postseason tournament since 2014.