(Sugar Grove, IL.) - On the first day of the National Letter of Intent (NLI) early signing period, Waubonsee Community College sophomore Jared Liebelt officially committed to play at Mississippi State University beginning with the 2018 season. With his family, Chiefs' coaches and teammates looking on, the 6'1" 185-pound right-handed pitcher signed an NLI to continue his collegiate career with the Bulldogs, a perennial NCAA Division I and South East Conference (SEC) powerhouse. The Aurora West High School graduate turned in an outstanding freshman year for Waubonsee last spring, and followed it up with a solid summer season pitching for the LaCrosse (WI.) Loggers in the Northwoods League, where he caught the attention of a Mississippi State recruiter.
Liebelt finished in the top-20 nationally among all NJCAA Division III pitchers in seven different categories last spring. The Chiefs' lead pitcher went 9-4, finishing tied for fifth nationally in wins while helping lead Waubonsee to a berth in the NJCAA Division III World Series. Liebelt also ended up tied for fifth in strikeouts with 100, the fourth most ever by a Waubonsee pitcher. Additionally, he tied for fifth nationally with 13 starts, was tied for fourth with seven complete games, was seventh with 81 innings pitched, his 2.11 earned-run-average was 18th nationally and he ended up 20th with an average of 11.11 strikeouts per nine innings. He allowed just 56 hits as opponents batted only .211 against him. Twice during the season Liebelt was tabbed the NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Week, and he was selected the Most Valuable Player of the Region IV Tournament. The Aurora native was named to the All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference First Team and the All-Region IV Second Team. Heading into the 2017 season Liebelt will again be the Chiefs' lead pitcher as coach Brad Unger's squad aims to defend their Region IV title and advance to the National Tournament in Greeneville, Tennessee.