Former MHS catcher Blair DeBord participates in the KABC All Star game on June 10 at Tointon Family Stadium. DeBord signed to play baseball at Kansas State on Sunday. Mercury photo Rod Mikinski.

With his high school career completed, former Manhattan High Indian catcher Blair DeBord had his sights set on a professional baseball career.

Following an MLB draft that saw his name going uncalled, DeBord decided to opt away from his original plans of attending Seminole State College in Oklahoma, a junior college, to accepting an offer from Kansas State this past Sunday.

"The Juco route was a good way to get to the pros faster, but after the whole draft was done, it felt like a big step and I didn't know how I would handle that next step," DeBord said. "K-State being hometown, I wanted to help contribute to the recent success."

Although he had already signed with Seminole, and was awaiting the results of the draft, DeBord received an offer from K-State a month ago.

The Indians All-State catcher said he made the decision to wait on a pro career in order to polish his skills and maybe help K-State reach the national stage.

"I have some work to do on my game, and I don't know if I was ready ability-wise to go and compete as a job," DeBord said. "Watching the College World Series as I grew up, it's kind of hard to say I don't want a chance to take part in that."

The new Wildcat signee said he has discussed no real plans with K-State on what he will do, but he understands every job on the team is wide open and a job must be won through competition.

"I'm just going in with open arms," Debord said, "and open options and see what I can do for K-State."

DeBord also said he was excited at the chance to compete in the Big 12 Conference, which is coming off qualifying seven teams for NCAA Regionals and puting Texas in the CWS Final.

"Week in and week out, it doesn't matter where you go or who you play, you have a chance to get beat," DeBord said. "It's going to be cool to get adjusted to that."

If DeBord's former MHS teammate, pitcher Kurt Giller, decides to go to Nebraska rather then sign a professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, who drafted him in the 21st round of the draft, DeBord said he is excited at the chance to compete against his friend in teammate in a rivalry situation.

"We've played together since we were eight years old," DeBord said. "So it's a pretty big deal for my dad to say he coached two division one athletes, and one that got drafted."

Giller has until August 15 to decide if he will enter into a contract with the Blue Jays, or if he will attend Nebraska.