Kristi Nixon/Muscatine Journal Brance Rivera, center, prepares to put his signature on a national letter of intent to play baseball at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He is flanked by his mother, Susanna, and father, Matt, who also is the Muscatine High School baseball coach.

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Brance Rivera said he was told to go with his heart. It turns out his heart is in Texas.

The Muscatine High School senior shortstop signed to play baseball with Texas Christian University Wednesday afternoon.

“Everything felt right,” Rivera said. “It’s a great baseball program, I like the coaches, and it’s warm. I also like the school.

“I had it narrowed down to Iowa, Louisville and TCU. Everybody told me to go with what you feel, and I felt it there.”

Rivera was the lone out-of-state signee for head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s Horned Frogs.

Beyond Iowa and Louisville, other schools recruiting Rivera were Nebraska, UNI, Arkansas and Hawaii.

“Once I picked TCU, I didn’t think about any other school,” Rivera said. “It (being recruited) was great at first – being wanted is great. But it got overwhelming. I knew it was going to be a tough decision, so I prayed about it a lot and kept God in the decision, and that helped a lot.”

A first-team all-conference and all-district performer with the Muskies, Rivera also was a member of the all-star Iowa Junior team and participated in the Perfect Game National Showcase.

“We are excited to add Brance and his family to TCU,” Schlossnagle said. “He will have an excellent opportunity to compete for significant playing time as a freshman. To have one of the premier players in the Midwest choose TCU is a great statement about our school and program.”

Rivera also has received interest from pro scouts, something he said he hasn’t completely ruled out.

“It’s still a possibility,” Rivera said. “The 2008 draft is in June and pro teams are still looking. I could still go pro – it will depend on what round I go, where I go and how much money it involves – but I don’t know if I want to do that because TCU is a great college.”

Earning a Golden Glove award each of the last two seasons, Rivera was tabbed the Muscatine High School team captain as a junior. He has stolen 45 bases the last two seasons with 26 doubles.

Rivera also had the distinct honor of playing in the Mariner Games at Safeco Field in Seattle, which is an invitation-only event.

The coaching staff at TCU, Rivera said, played a big role in his decision to sign with the Horned Frogs.

“Other schools, the assistant coach was the recruiting coordinator, but TCU’s head coach recruited me,” Rivera said. “TCU has a great history of winning – they’ve won the conference four years in a row.”

Rivera is one of nine signees, including eight high school players and one junior college transfer. The Horned Frogs had a school-record 48 wins last year.

“This class reminds me a lot of our very first class that was ranked No. 3 nationally,” Schlossnagle said.

 “I can honestly say that we expect each of these signees to make a significant impact in their freshman year.

“After all is said and done, and this entire group shows up on campus next fall, I have no doubt that it is a class that, although not high in quantity is worthy of a Top-10 national ranking.”

The visit to TCU clinched Rivera’s decision.

“When I was down there, they made me feel like I was at home, like I was family,” Rivera said. “They are great guys. Plus, they will get me to the level that I want to be when I graduate – which is pro baseball.”

Reporter contact information:

Kristi Nixon 563-262-0533 or kristi.nixon@muscatinejournal.com