Wendell Rieves has area-code range on the basketball court.
But Rieves’ skills and accomplishments in sneakers pale in comparison to the versatility and potential the West Lowndes High School senior has in cleats.
Last week, Rieves had an opportunity to showcase those skills for a chance to earn a scholarship to play baseball. He didn’t disappoint.
On Monday, Rieves celebrated the next step in his athletic career in a signing ceremony in which he officially announced he was going to play baseball at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead.
“I just tried to go hard and do my best,” said Rieves, who gave Mississippi Delta C.C. baseball coach Michael Avalon a verbal commitment Thursday. “I think I did good. The way they reacted, they thought I did great.”
Rieves said he didn’t know anything was organized until West Lowndes High baseball coach Todd Stanley told him and Eric Crawford earlier in the week to come to the school for a workout. He said he hit batting practice and pitched for Avalon. He said he mixed fastballs and off-speed pitches in a 20-pitch display.
Rieves said he played basketball at West Lowndes High to “stay out of trouble.” His shooting range from beyond the 3-point arc made him one of the Panthers’ best scoring options. Still, he said he always has known baseball would be his best shot to play sports in college.
It didn’t lessen the surprise when he received the scholarship offer from Avalon.
“I was shocked,” Rieves said. “At first, I didn’t know what to say. I told him I would let him know after I thought about it. When they came to the game against West Point game, that is when I decided to tell them I was signing with them.”
Stanley said he had contacted several junior college coaches because he wanted them to see some of his players work out. He said it didn’t take long for the Avalon to tell him he was going to offer Rieves a scholarship that day.
“They mainly liked his versatility,” Stanley said. “They clocked him on the mound. They had seen him against Starkville and he was throwing in the mid-80s. They clocked him in the low-80s after a couple of days, and he was impressed with his arm strength. He can play several positions. He can play third, he can play first, he can pitch, and he can catch. He can do so many things. But they are definitely want him in the lineup somewhere hitting. I don’t know what the future holds for him, but I know they plan right now for him to play a position mainly.”
Stanley said Rieves fared well at the workout, so he wasn’t surprised Avalon offered so quickly. After all, Rieves is only 17 years old and has the potential to mature into his 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame and get even stronger once he gets on a weight program and concentrates on baseball.
“The future is bright for him,” Stanley said. “He has the size and everything going for him right now. I think he has a lot of room to grow. He came and worked out down at the field house a few times during basketball season, but he has a lot of ability and he is only going to get better.”
Rieves said his dream always has been to play college baseball. Now that he has that opportunity, Rieves said he is going to stay focused and work hard so he can make the most of his chance.
“High school is different from college,” Rieves said. “You are going to have to get better when you go to college, so I am going to have to work out individually and when no one is looking to get better.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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