Nathan Mutsch
A four-year baseball letterman for head coach Bob Rowe, he led Northern Kentucky in strikeouts during both his junior and senior seasons. He earned All-District Tournament honors in 2006 and 2007 and helped guide his team to a 22–10 record as a senior. In 2006, he played a key role in capturing the 37th District Championship, posting a 2.47 ERA with 76 strikeouts over 61 innings pitched.
He also lettered three years in basketball, helping lead the Mustangs to the 2007 All “A” State Championship and an impressive 28–5 record.
As a sophomore, Nate competed behind the powerhouse 2005 “Murderer’s Row” lineup of Evan McDole, Kevin Smith, and company, which limited varsity opportunities. Despite that, he appeared in 21 games and scored 60 points, showcasing his potential early in his career.
A year later, Nate earned a starting role, starting 28 of 31 games and scoring 232 points. As a senior, he was a key member of the 2007 All “A” State Championship team that finished 28–5. Despite missing 14 games with an injury to his pitching hand, he returned in time to help capture the 37th District Tournament title and was named to the All-District Tournament Team.
During the summer of 2005 Nathan pitched his Campbell County Auto Body, Class “AA” Knothole team to the City Championship and a 24-2 season record. In a critical semi-finals game he struck out 15 of 21 batters to face him and began to draw the attention of college scouts.
Nathan posted a 7-4 record his junior year for the Mustangs while getting the ball in every big game. His best performance of the season might have been a loss. On Sunday, April 30th, Nathan Mutsch and the Mustangs took on the Beechwood Tigers in the 9th/10th Region All “A” Sectionals for a berth in the All “A” State Tournament. He was brilliant that afternoon, holding the Tigers in check, and giving his team a chance to win the game. The Tigers won the game 5-3 and went on to win the All “A” State and finish second in the unclassified KHSAA State At Large Tournament that spring, falling to Louisville Trinity 5-4 in nine innings.
His big break may have come when he qualified to play for elite, select, traveling, Kentucky Colonels, coached by former major leaguer Walt Terrell. Nathan had the privilege of pitching at Notre Dame University, Greer Stadium (Home of the Nashville Sounds – the Milwaukee Brewers AAA Affiliate), and the Universities of Cincinnati and Kentucky. Mutsch sported a
4-2 record while hurling for the talent laden Colonels.
Nate has often spent time working with the Cincinnati Reds at Redfest, camps and clinics.
Nate went on to sign a Division I scholarship with Xavier University. After redshirting as a freshman in 2008, he pitched in 64 career games over the next three seasons, logging 144 innings with 88 strikeouts and compiling a 5–6 record. He earned the win in his first collegiate start against then-#25 NC State and was part of two Atlantic 10 Championship teams. Nate graduated from Xavier in 2011.
2011: Posted a 2–0 record in 23 relief appearances, striking out 24 batters while holding opponents to a .268 batting average.
2010: Appeared in 16 games with eight starts, striking out 24 batters over 49.1 innings.
2009: Started 11 of 12 appearances, finishing with a 2–1 record and a 5.81 ERA across 48.0 innings with 33 strikeouts. Threw a career-high 7.0 innings against Georgia State on March 6, striking out a career-best seven while allowing just one earned run. Named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Feb. 23.
2008: Redshirted.
Nate served as freshman head coach to the 13-9 Ethan Eilerman led 2016-17 Mustangs. He also served as the JV head coach for several years, as well as a Varsity Assistant to Scott Code.
He was to be inducted into the Bishop Brossart Sports Hall of Fame in March of 2020, which was put on hold due to the COVID-19 virus threat.