Blayze Berry was sure.
On his unofficial visit to Mississippi State last September, the Heritage Academy baseball standout, then a junior, got the news in head coach Chris Lemonis’ office: The Bulldogs were offering him a scholarship.
For Berry, a longtime Mississippi State fan, there was no hesitation. He committed on the spot.
“It’s everybody’s dream school,” Berry said. “It’s unreal. The baseball stadium, the school itself, they’ve got everything you want them to offer. It’s just a dream come true.”
Berry signed his national letter of intent to MSU on Thursday in the Heritage Academy library, getting one step closer to achieving a long-held goal.
“He grew up in a Bulldog house, and he was always around at Mississippi State baseball games, and it’s just local, where his family can be close by,” Heritage Academy baseball coach Justin Flake said. “It’s exciting to see a childhood dream come true.”
Berry said he wasn’t sure for a long time if he was Mississippi State material, but around seventh or eighth grade, things started to click.
“I knew I was skilled; just had to keep perfecting the talent,” he said. “It was a lot of work and a lot of hours put into it.”
Berry attended baseball camp after baseball camp at MSU “since I pretty much could even throw a baseball” and played for the East Coast Sox travel ball team. Flake said he fulfills every role with the Patriots — whether that’s on the mound, manning the middle infield and even catching down the stretch last season.
“He’s not just a pitcher,” Flake said. “He’s not just a shortstop. He’s just a ballplayer. He’s the type of kid you want on your team for sure.”
The Bulldogs soon realized that, too. Berry had other offers, but as soon as the Bulldogs showed interest, his decision was made.
“… Mississippi State came along, and that just kind of sealed the deal for me,” he said.
Before Berry heads off to Starkville, where he said he plans to pitch as well as playing infield, he has one more year left with the Patriots. Berry expects to lead his team to a repeat of last year’s state title-winning season.
This team that we have is just as good as last year’s, so hopefully we bring home another state championship again,” Berry said. “It’s gonna be a fun one.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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