MOTORING TO THIRD BASE — Fairmont’s Landen Meyerdirk (right) sprints from first base to third on a single to right field during Big South Conference regular-season baseball action against Blue Earth Area. The speedy outfielder will play baseball for the University of Minnesota in Morris next spring. Blue Earth Area second baseman Soren Fering looks on. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Recent Fairmont High School graduate Landen Meyerdirk is preparing to try to ace the next test in his life — college baseball.

Meyerdirk — 6 feet even and 160 pounds — will be playing at the University of Minnesota in Morris in the spring.

“I like playing football and baseball, but thought I would have a safer route to play baseball,” Meyerdirk said. “When I took my official visit to Morris, I met some of the players and coaches. I like the small campus and the baseball program is getting better. If baseball doesn’t work out, I know I’ll get a great education and set myself up for the rest of my life.”

Morris is 179 miles from Fairmont and has a population of 5,206.

Meyerdirk has excelled on the baseball field, using his speed to blaze his path to success.

As a high school senior, Meyerdirk earned all-Big South Conference and all-Section 3AA honors, in addition to being selected to play in the annual Lions Club All-Star series thanks to his gaudy statistics.

In 27 games, Meyerdirk hit .379 (36-for-95) with nine doubles and two triples to go with 35 runs scored, 12 RBIs and a team-best 22 stolen bases.

“I’ve always been fast, and I used it to my advantage on the baseball field,” Meyerdirk said. “I look at the pitcher’s feet, and then he commits to throwing a pitch to home plate, I can tell and it’s time to steal a base.”

The 22 stolen bases were 11 more than the next highest number on the team, and the 35 runs scored also was a team-best, seven more than teammates Nate Soelter and Lincoln Becker.

Meyerdirk played primarily left field and hit at the top of the batting order for Cardinals’ head coach Don Waletich.

“Landen is a quality kid and very coachable,” Waletich said. “He works hard at getting better and he should do well for Morris’ program. I know they’re up-and-coming and they like to steal bases, which I know why they liked Landen so much. He fits right into their team plans.”

As a junior, Meyerdirk hit .350 (28-for-80) with two doubles, 31 runs scored, 21 RBIs and 19 stolen bases, which was second on the team to Eli Anderson.

Meyerdirk was a three-year varsity baseball player. He also played varsity football for Fairmont.

He rushed for 276 yards with five touchdowns his senior year, and caught six passes for 51 yards on offense.

On defense, Meyerdirk had a team-best 70 total tackles, 28 solo and 42 assisted.

He’ll be an outfielder for his college team, but doesn’t know where he’ll hit in the Cougars’ lineup.

“I would like to hit at the top of the lineup, but I’ll have to wait and see,” Meyerdirk said. “I guess it really doesn’t matter to me, just so I’m in the lineup and helping the team any way I can.”

Meyerdirk’s ultimate goal is to play Major League Baseball, but understands it’s a long shot.

He will major in business, but is unsure if he wants to work in the business aspect or finance.

Meyerdirk is the second youngest child of Kelly and Austin Meyerdirk. He has two older half-brothers, Carter and Riley Lloyd, as well as a younger sister, Raelynn Meyerdirk.

“My parents support everything I do, which is appreciated, and they’ll attend as many of my college baseball games as possible,” Landen Meyerdirk said. “I’m excited for college to start. There is a lot to like about the town of Morris and the college.”

Meanwhile, this summer he playing baseball for the local amateur baseball team, the Fairmont Martins.

He is among a handful of recent high school graduates to play on the Martins, joining high school teammates Lincoln Becker, Brendan Schmidtke, Nate Soelter and Jack Kosbab.

“I like playing with the Martins because I see a lot of college pitchers and former college pitchers which helps me get ready for my freshman college season,” Meyerdirk said.

Meyerdirk moves into his dormitory in Morris on Aug. 19.