NAMPA, Idaho – It's not often that nearly getting ejected from a game will get someone an offer from a college.

But the fire Ross Clevenger showed when he got into the face of an umpire during a game at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise impressed then Northwest Nazarene University assistant Jason Krohn and head coach Rocke Musgraves.

"I about got thrown out on a questionable call," Clevenger said. "I get super into it. I'm really competitive. So when I'm pitching, I tend to get riled up pretty easy."

How Clevenger has used that competitiveness since then has transformed him into the ace of the Nighthawks staff and one of the best pitchers in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

"Ross has been a player that has learned over the years to use his competitive attitude as a strength," Musgraves said. "I think when he first came in, he was so competitive and so emotional that oftentimes it got the best of him. Over the years, he has honed that so he uses it to his advantage. It isn't the enemy anymore, it is his friend."

Clevenger, an Eagle, Idaho native, is mellow off the field, though. A quiet kid, who loves to fish for bass and catfish at Lake Lowell as well as duck hunt, he is completely transformed when he gets between the lines.

"Once he has a ball in his hand, he switches the light switch on and has it," teammate Greg Casper said. "He is super calm everywhere else, except when he pitches.

"I wish everyone had his competitiveness, honestly. It would make winning games a lot easier."

Clevenger, who had no plans to pitch after high school until that fateful day in 2014, went 6-3 with a 4.36 ERA for the Nighthawks last season, helping lead NNU to the GNAC tournament title game for the third consecutive season.

The senior owns a career record of 14-6, making 31 starts in his three years. He doesn't throw overly hard, but uses a devastating changeup to keep hitters guessing.

"He has a pitch that when he throws it right, it is unhittable," Musgraves said. "Not many pitchers at this level have a pure out pitch. It is always in the back of the hitter's mind, which takes that upper 80s low 90s fastball and increases its velocity, because if they are looking for that changeup that fastball sneaks up on them."

Clevenger developed his split-changeup as a freshman after relying on his fastball and curve ball in high school.

"I've never seen anyone throw it exactly like I do," he said. "It tends to drop and cut down and away to a righty.

"I throw it in all counts. It is really when I throw it that it is effective, not necessarily the movement. Getting a hitter to think it's a fastball count when I throw it."

Clevenger was fourth in strikeouts last season in the GNAC, tied for second in wins and second in innings pitched. He said he has no individual goals this season.

But you better believe when he gets the ball in his hand he is going to do everything in his power to win.