NEW ULM — Playing DI college baseball has always been a dream for 2021 New Ulm High School grad Ethan Stade.

Tuesday that dream became a reality as the 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher announced he will be playing for Bowling Green State University next season in Ohio.

“I have been in the transfer portal and they were one of the first colleges that hit me up,” said Stade, who will be a fifth-year senior. “And they kept in contact with me all summer. Playing DI college baseball has been a goal of mine since I was a kid to play DI baseball. I did have interest from the University of West Virginia, the University of Portland, Houston Christian, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and a couple of other colleges.”

Stade said that this past season for Minnesota State University, Mankato, he was dealing with an injury to his left shoulder that limited him to 8 1/3 innings where he recorded nine strikeouts.

“I spent a couple of months rehabbing that and getting it stronger,” he said. “But the season before that I did really well — I was a back-end bullpen closer kind of guy (25 strikeouts in 22 innings). I came in in some big situations and was able to get the job done.”

Stade said that Bowling Green showed the most interest in him.

“They were one of the first ones to contact me from day one and they kept their interest and kept getting back to me,” he said. “They kept calling me and making sure everything was OK. And they have had some successful seasons recently and I want to be a part of that too in the future.”

Stade said that he is hoping to be a starter for Bowling Green.

“They told me that I am capable of that, but I do have to work at it,” he said. “I think that the one thing I need to work on is the longevity of the season as a starter — I have not been a true starter since my senior year at New Ulm High School so my stamina has dwindled a little bit.”

Stade said that his fastball has increased from 85-86 miles per hour to now around 90-91 mph.

This summer Stade also set a Minnesota State Amateur Baseball record when he struck out 26 of 27 batters when the New Ulm Brewers defeated Bird Island.

Stade is currently pitching for the Willmar Stingers of the Northwood League but hopes to return to the Brewers for the playoffs.

“But that depends on whether Willmar make the playoffs or not,” he said.