Ty Wilson’s passion for baseball runs deep.
The Scottsbluff High School senior won’t have to go far to continue
playing the game he loves at the next level after he signed a letter of intent
to play for Mike Jones and the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team
on Tuesday.
“I’m coming here because I have always wanted to play for Coach Mike
Jones,” Wilson said. “He helped me through most of my baseball career. This is
also a good place for me to start off with.”
Wilson, who plans to major in civil engineering, had plans of attending
the University of Nebraska Omaha right out of high school. But he decided that
this was his best route.
“Staying here helps me a lot because I know everybody in this city and I
don’t have to get used to anything going to a whole new school,” Wilson said.
“It will be a little bit different practicing with different guys, but I should
be able to get used to it.”
Last season playing for Mark Moran and the WESTCO Zephyrs senior legion
program, Wilson was exceptional. Wilson led the team in home runs with six, had
51 runs batted in, and scored 50 runs in his first year with the Zephyrs.
Wilson said his game improved a ton after moving up through the Twin
Cities programs. He said the toughest adjustment for him was moving from the
junior to the senior team.
“I started playing in the American League of the 23 Club. I’ve grown and
I have got bigger,” he said. “The biggest jump was going from the Express to
the Zephyrs.”
Wilson said his home-run power last season was a surprise to him.
“Honestly, when I did hit my home runs I wasn’t expecting to get a home
run. They just kind of happened,” he said. “Most big leaguers will tell you
that is what happens. I am just trying to place the ball where I need to when I
go up to bat. The home runs just come to me.”
Jones, who is entering his 12th year as WNCC’s coach, said Wilson is the
type of player who can do it all.
“He brings a lot of things to the team like his athletic ability and he
can play multiple positions,” Jones said. “We want him to play second base, but
he can play multiple positions. And, with him being an offensive guy, making
the jump into college you have to be able to score runs and be able to hit. If
you have a hitter at every position, you will be a better ball club. He brings
us a hitter’s mentality, an offensive type of mind, and a guy that is ready to
step up and be ready to play. He will not be scared. He has enough courage that
he will step in and play.”
Jones said Wilson has developed as a baseball player throughout his
career.
“It is nice to see him develop from being a boy to a young man, while
watching him come through camps to watching him play with his legion team and
traveling teams,” Jones said. “I know his background. He will fit in real well
and make us all proud.”
Wilson helped lead WESTCO to a 37-23 record a year ago and a berth in
the Class A state tournament. He’s looking forward to another season with the
Zephyrs again this year.
Wilson’s addition to the Cougars gives the roster quite a local flavor. The
current Scottsbluff and Gering graduates on the WNCC team include Nate Marquez,
Grant Rimington, Tharyn Curtis, and Joe Moran.
This year’s WNCC baseball team will open its season Feb. 9-10 with home
games against McCook Community College.
No comments:
Post a Comment