Baseball knows no boundaries.
And when you make an impression on someone, there”s no telling where your hard work will help you wind up.
Blake Harrell finalized his destination of choice Tuesday, signing a scholarship to play baseball at St. Clair Community College in Port Huron, Mich.
The former standout at Hebron Christian and Starkville High School capitalized on his relationship with Mike Greene, who last month was named head baseball coach at SCCC. Greene coached Harrell last year with the Mississippi Prospects, a summer travel baseball team.
“He said he saw something in me he liked and that when he found a coaching job he would try to recruit me,” said Harrell, who spent his senior year at Starkville High. “Other guys (East Mississippi C.C.) and Mississippi Delta) were recruiting me as a pitcher and he was recruiting me as a middle infielder, outfielder, and a pitcher.”
Harrell said the fact Greene offered him a full scholarship played a role in his decision to play baseball in colder temperatures.
“I can use these two years and work at getting better at all three positions,” Harrell said. “If I want to play at the Division I level I will have some options, so it will work better and I will have a better chance.”
Greene takes over a program that went 12-40 this past season and has had five consecutive losing years. Greene hopes to reverse the program”s fortunes with a solid incoming class of recruits that features four players from Seattle, four from Atlanta, one from Texas, and Harrell.
“We are very excited at SC4 to sign such a talented baseball player and student to our school,” said Greene, who couldn”t attend Harrell”s signing. “Blake is a hard-working, talented individual, and we are looking forward to great things from him.
Greene said he told Harrell he would get a chance to play baseball in college after his senior year in high school. He is honored Harrell and his family have trusted him to be his coach for the next two seasons, and he feels Harrell has the tools to contribute right away.
“Blake is a great athlete and will help us reach our goal of making the Michigan Region 12 tournament,” Greene said. “If Blake continues to work at baseball and at school he will have another signing to a four-year school or a major league contract in a couple years. I”m very honored to coach Blake and look forward to a great season.”
Former Hebron Christian coach Sam Pearson also praised Harrell, who spent four years at HCS before transferring to Starkville High.
“He deserves to see his dreams come true, and I am so proud of him,” Pearson said. “Blake has always worked hard at being his best in all he does and excelled at every position he has been asked to play in every sport. However, there has always been something extra special about him on the diamond. He has a natural feel for the game and has always exhibited maturity beyond his years. His attitude is that of a champion. His heart that of a lion. Blake Harrell will make any organization he is a part of better.”
Harrell, a 5-foot-11, 160-pounder, grew up playing travel ball in Columbus. He credited all of his coaches in youth baseball for helping set him on the path to earning a baseball scholarship.
Harrell doesn”t think the distance from home or the colder weather will pose problems. He also is looking forward to maturing as a player regardless of where he will play. He spent this past season at Starkville High primarily as a middle infielder and right fielder. He also saw some time on the mound. He played center field for the Mississippi Prospects.
Harrell said he gained more confidence from his past two years playing with the Mississippi Prospects. The teams spends most of the summer traveling to showcases throughout the region and playing in front of college coaches and scouts. He said the experience helped show him he could compete against the best players in the country.
“We definitely played really good competition,” Harrell said. “We played several teams in Atlanta that were full of SEC picks and (Major League Baseball) draft picks. It definitely gets you prepared for college. Every game got me ready for the next level.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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