Next year, Nate Roberts will be a Redhawk.

The Central Kitsap High School (CKHS) senior will sign a letter of intent today to play baseball at Seattle University next season, CKHS athletic director and baseball coach Bill Baxter said Tuesday.

Roberts, who hit .379 with four doubles, 20 runs and 16 RBI for the Cougars in 2008, will play second base for the Redhawks.

“This has always been a dream of mine,” Roberts said before practice Tuesday. “It’s relieving and I’m really happy that I’m able to play Division I baseball, top-notch college baseball. I’m excited about that.”

Roberts met Redhawk coach Donny Harrel, who was an assistant baseball coach at the University of Washington for four years, at a junior college baseball camp. After seeing him play, Harrel asked Roberts to stay in contact.

Soon, an offer was extended and Roberts accepted.

“He told me that family’s first … that he’s gonna take care of me,” Roberts said.

Currently the No. 2 hitter in CK’s lineup, Roberts said he also visited a technical school in New Jersey to perhaps attend, but he “didn’t care much for it.”

“Seattle seemed like a better opportunity for me,” he said. “It’s close to home and I really like the coach.”

CK coach Bill Baxter called Roberts, a three-year varsity starter, the team’s “best infielder,” saying he can play multiple positions, including second base, third base, shortstop and pitcher.

“He’s also a great hitter for us,” Baxter said. “He just does a great job for us.”

But Baxter said Roberts’ character is just as impressive — if not more than — as his play on the field, something that should help him make the transition from high school to college ball.

“He’s got a great attitude; I always like to start with the intangibles,” Baxter said. “Lots of kids have lots of talent, but not all the kids have all the other aspects of the game, knowledge of the game. Nate’s really smart out there.”

Despite the excitement of securing his baseball career for at least the next four seasons, Roberts said there is still work to be done this year at CK. Aside from wanting to win a league and, ideally, a state title, he wants to continue to improve his game.

“I know it’s going to be a big jump and I’ll have to do a lot of work to step up to that level,” he said. “It should be fun, to get all that experience.”

The Seattle University baseball team formerly competed in the Northern Pacific West Conference of the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA), which consists of about 150 collegiate institutions, but is being reclassified into Division I for the 2009-10 season.

Roberts will sign his letter of intent at 4:30 p.m. at the CKHS baseball field.

The Cougars (6-2 overall, 5-0 league) swept Bellarmine Prep this week, winning 4-2 Monday and 6-3 Wednesday. CK is now half-a-game behind Olympia for first place in the Narrows League Bay Division.

“They would have been my preseason pick,” Baxter said of Bellarmine (8-2, 5-2), which was undefeated prior to the CK losses. “I think we’ve got as good a shot as anybody to get into the Narrows League playoffs and hopefully beyond.”

Casey Bohlmann pitched a complete game Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked two. The Cougars broke the game open with four runs in the fourth inning to build a 4-0 lead.

CK hosts Woodinville at 1 p.m. tomorrow.