Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Jeff Cruse was a pitcher for the Colonels’ baseball team from 1984-87, leading the team to three straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearances from 1984-1986 and three OVC North Division titles.  Cruse came to Eastern after a remarkable high school career including a record 24 consecutive wins on the mound and appeared in three straight Final-Four state championships for Madison Central High School.  This included the 1982 Madison Central team that went 40-0 and won the mythical national championship. 

His first appearance in an OVC Tournament came his freshman season when he pitched eight and two-thirds innings in a 9-4 win over Murray State in which he allowed the Racers only six hits.  Cruse holds Eastern’s record for most victories on the mound with 30, including a sparkling 30-6 career mark and an impressive 10-1 record as a junior.  One of his most sterling performances came in the opening round of the 1985 OVC Tournament when he pitched a complete game 8-1 win over Middle Tennessee, which included 17 strikeouts.  Cruse was a contributing part of the 1985 Colonel team that came back to win the OVC Tournament after an opening round loss with four straight wins.  EKU scored an amazing 77 runs in those five OVC tourney games.  He closed his career in 1987 serving as tri-captain, compiling a 7-2 mark on the mound with a career best 3.00 ERA.  Other career totals include a record 20 complete games among 43 starts and 208 strikeouts in 278 and one-third innings pitched. 

He was a first-team All-OVC pitcher in 1986 and 1987 and was a member of Eastern’s All-Century baseball team announced in 2009.  He signed with the Kansas City Royals upon graduation.