Wilde Lake pitcher Josh Futter had just spent an enjoyable day touring the Radford University campus, meeting with the school’s new baseball coach and figuring out whether he could see himself spending the next four years of his life as a Highlander.

But after settling down for the night in his hotel room with his father, Jim, Josh got an unexpected phone call from a different set of coaches than the ones he just spent the day with. The call came from a James Madison University baseball staff member, who extended a surprising invitation.

“I had talked to [the JMU coaches] before, but I didn’t realize [their interest] was that serious,” Futter said. “They said, ‘Since you’re down here, come up [to JMU's campus] on your way back [home].’”

The next morning, the Futters made the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Radford, Va., to Harrisonburg, home of the JMU Dukes. Two days after the visit, Futter had a scholarship offer, and a few days after that, he made it official, committing to JMU.

For Futter, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound pitcher for the Wildecats, the commitment two weeks ago was the culmination of a sometimes exhausting, yet often exciting, recruiting process.

Futter, who chose JMU over Radford, Coastal Carolina and Virginia Commonwealth, was impressed with almost everything about the Harrisonburg campus.

“It wasn’t too big and it wasn’t too small,” Futter said. “They’re also getting a new stadium. It’s a really comfortable atmosphere. And they have a strong business program, which I’m planning on majoring in.”

JMU had a difficult 2007 season, finishing ninth in the 11-team Colonial Athletic Association. But Dukes head coach Spanky McFarland put together one of the country’s top recruiting classes for 2008 -- something that didn’t escape Futter’s attention.

Plus, McFarland has big plans for Futter when he joins the Dukes.

“What they told me so far is they’re bringing me in to play right away,” Futter said. “A lot of these schools won’t make a commitment to someone they have to work with ... they say I’m pretty polished and college-ready to come right in and play.”

Futter made his mark on the local high school baseball scene as a freshman during Wilde Lake’s run to the Class 3A state championship game.

The Wildecats lost the title game to Severna Park, but Futter picked up four wins in the playoffs.

Futter’s been used to pitching on the big stage since that improbable freshman season, so some might find it curious that he’s headed to a smaller school for college.

In his mind, however, playing at JMU will still give him an opportunity to be noticed by major league teams.

“The reason that I actually chose JMU is I felt if I went to a bigger school, I might be a No. 2 or 3 starter,” Futter said. “I think I’d have a better chance getting drafted as a No.1 ... I think by my junior year I could be the No. 1 [starting pitcher at JMU].”

But the decision to go to JMU goes way beyond his potential for big things on the diamond. The Harrisonburg visit was more than enough to convince Futter he was a good fit with the Dukes.

“JMU just kind of blew everything else out of the water.”