CALEDONIA — Logan Suggs entered the summer hoping there would be a destination at the end of a busy road.

Like many local standouts, Suggs entered the summer between his junior and senior year at Caledonia High School with a goal to secure an opportunity to play at the next level. And like more and more local players, the pitcher/infielder wanted to play in games outside the Golden Triangle to raise his profile and to increase the likelihood he could attract the attention of college coaches.

A journey that included trips in the state of Mississippi and to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee ultimately paid off for Suggs, who saw numerous college coaches in the summer. But Suggs was focused on building a relationship with the coaches at Hinds Community College in Raymond. When he saw those coaches at several of the showcase tournaments he attended with the 18-and-under Pure Momentum Stars, out of Jackson, and the Mississippi Stars, he realized he had to make the most of his opportunity.

Last month, Suggs accomplished that goal when he made a verbal commitment to play baseball at Hinds C.C. He said Friday that his decision was a welcome weight off his shoulders because now he can focus on making the most of his senior year.

“Hinds is a school with a winning tradition,” said Suggs, who made his verbal commitment Aug. 19. “They put several players at the next level. It is a location near Jackson that is ideal. It is nice area and a nice campus. The coaching staff does what it needs to do to get you to the next level.

Suggs said this summer was his first season playing travel ball with the Pure Momentum Stars and the Mississippi Stars. He said he had played in leagues in and around Caledonia prior to joining both of the teams. He said the summer season started at the end of May and ran into the beginning of August. With five games a weekend and only two weekends off, Suggs felt he would have ample opportunity to showcase his skills. He was pleased he was able to make an impression on the right coaches.

“I knew where I wanted to go, and it helped once I got that offer,” Suggs said. “I was going to keep my options open, but once I got the offer to where i anted to go from the start it was easy.”

Suggs was a key contributor last season for Caledonia, which finished 20-12 and lost to Amory in Game 3 in the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State tournament. The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder was third on the team with a .343 batting average. He was second on the team in hits (36), third in runs (21), fourth in RBIs (18), and third in doubles (five) and on-base percentage (.444). He also was 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA. He walked 24 and struck out 45 in 42 1/3 innings.

“I played pretty well my junior year, and it helped to have guys ahead of me that were going places, so there were coaches there watching them,” Suggs said of Jorden Hollowell and Jantsen Glasgow (Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.). “Me playing well, I was able to get my name out there a little bit and throughout the summer I was able to keep playing and to keep putting up numbers.”

Caledonia coach John Wilson said he doesn’t have to worry about Suggs because the senior is someone who is focused and will get his work done.

“If you had nine kids like him, you’d win a lot of ballgames,” Wilson said. “He is going to get dirty, he is going to work hard. I don’t have to go over there (in the Caledonia High baseball team’s field house) and watch him lift weights. He is going to do it.”

Wilson said Suggs made the most of his summer to raise his profile. He said it can be expensive, but times have changed to the point where more players have to play more games in front of college coaches and scouts if their goal is to play baseball at the next level. He said Suggs has hit the low 80s and has worked a cut fastball into his repertoire so he can be an effective pitcher.

Suggs said he talked with the Hinds C.C. coaches about pitching and playing multiple positions in the infield. He said he played first, second, and third base in the summer on the travel ball circuit. He said he pitched and played third and second base as a junior on the Caledonia High baseball team.

Suggs feels the versatility he showed in the summer and the intensity he showed on the field helped him realize his goal and prove to them he could play at the next level. Several weeks after making the commitment, the reality of accomplishing a goal has finally hit him.

“It is a great feeling to know the hard work is paying off,” Suggs said. “But you can’t stop now. I have to keep working hard. I always knew I would have to work hard to get to where I wanted to be and that nothing would be handed to me. Now that I have gotten to this point, it is a feeling of gratitude. I am happy to be here.”

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Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.