Marquette Academy’s Nick Melvin, a multi-sport standout for the 2A quarterfinalist Crusaders, has committed to play baseball at Southwest Illinois College, an NJCAA school located in downstate Belleville. With him at the signing were (seated) his parents, Butch and Beth and MA coach Todd Hopkins. Melvin, a baseball, football and basketball standout, was recently named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association 2A all-state team. The living facilities and athletic complex, he said, were factors in his decision. “At first, I considered going to Monmouth to play with my brother. That would have been cool,” said Melvin, “but I heard about Coach (Dave) Garcia being at SWIC and how he gets guys to the next level. That’s what I want to do, so that was a turning point for me, plus knowing (MA teammate) Luke Couch is going there, too.”