WEST POINT — West Point baseball head coach Mitch Bohon had a big smile across his face on Thursday afternoon.

Just before the Green Wave held batting practice, the third member of this year’s senior class held his signing day inside the baseball team’s indoor facility, officially signing with a place all too familiar to Bohon.

Catcher Corbin Hendricks, who had been committed for some time, signed his National Letter of Intent to play at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, where his head coach finished up his college career.

“I didn’t have any influence,” Bohon said jokingly. “It was just a good spot for him and he went down there and loved it. It was a great opportunity for him … It gives me another reason to go down there more.”

Hendricks has been one of the staples of this West Point team throughout his career, starring at catcher for the Green Wave while also seeing time at third base, in the outfield and on the mound.

He joins a growing number of players who will be representing the Green Wave at the next level.

“It feels nice; it feels good,” Hendricks said. “It feels like the right decision. I’m glad I made it, too. It just feels like the right place to be … The history of it, being one of the winningest schools in Mississippi and the hospitality that they gave me when I was down there, it was a nice place.”

William Carey, not to be overshadowed by the success of collegiate baseball programs in Mississippi, has been one of the premier NAIA baseball programs in the country.

The Crusaders, despite having a current student population of just over 5,000, have produced two former Major League Baseball players and a number of MLB Draft choices.

Baseball has a rich history in Hattiesburg as it is with Southern Miss, but William Carey only adds to that history and has created a rightful place for itself in the mix.

Hendricks was almost immediately sold on the program, the coaching staff and the campus, and to get signing day out of the way before the start of his senior season was a weight off his shoulders.

“It was a lot of relief,” Hendricks said. “I’m glad I did it soon so I wouldn’t have to worry about it through the season.”

West Point has worked toward building a program that can compete with the best of them in Mississippi but has struggled come postseason time.

The Green Wave have high aspirations for this season to make a deep playoff run, but with Hendricks adding to the names headed off to play college baseball, Bohon hopes these moments will continue to create motivation for the entire program.

“We’re getting there,” Bohon said. “We’ve put together a really good coaching staff, and I think we’re building something special. The kids are buying into what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish … I think the culture is changing and we’re creating something special. It’s slowly happening, but I think we’re getting there.”

Hendricks looks to show out during his senior season, which begins Feb. 13 against Starkville.