Mississippi State lands baseball star
Tri-State Sports & News Service
The NCAA’s early signing period began Wednesday, meaning dozens of WPIAL seniors will sign with colleges in the upcoming days.
But it was the verbal commitment from a local sophomore last Friday that made the biggest news nationally.
That type of impact happens when the No. 1ranked player in the country makes their college choice, and that’s exactly the designation given to West Allegheny baseball player Austin Hendrick, who the scouting service Perfect Game dubs the top sophomore in the nation.
Hendrick, an outfielderpitcher, committed to Mississippi State. He could have pretty much picked any college in the country. National powers such as LSU, TCU, Vanderbilt and North Carolina were among those that wanted him to join their programs. However, a visit to Starkville, Miss., last weekend led to Hendrick becoming a Bulldog.
“I like everything about it. The coaching staff. The facilities. It’s in the SEC. You see a school like Alabama. It’s a football school. You see Kentucky. It’s a basketball school. Mississippi State. It’s a baseball school,” Hendrick said.
As a freshman at West Allegheny, the lefthanded hitting Hendrick batted .371 with three home runs and 20 RBIs and a .506 on-base percentage. He also went 5-0 with an 0.82 ERA.
The question now is will Hendrick ever play college baseball? He could eventually be taken with a high pick in the MLB draft after his senior year of high school and then elect to sign professionally.
“I’m going to take it one day at a time and continue to work hard,” Hendrick said.
As for being considered the No. 1 player in the country, Hendrick said he tries to take it in stride.
Said Hendrick: “It’s humbling, don’t get me wrong. But a lot of hard work goes into it and it pays off. And it makes you work harder.”
Shaw picks N.C. State
Upper St. Clair senior Savannah Shaw typically finds herself at the head of the pack when running a race. This time next year, she’ll be running with the Wolfpack.
Shaw committed to North Carolina State last week, choosing the Wolfpack over Syracuse, Colorado and Pitt. She visited all four schools, but said she felt most at home on her visit to Raleigh.
“I think it was really the best fit of finances, athletics and academics. I really clicked with the coaches and people. It all just came together and fit the best,” Shaw said.
Shaw has had an outstanding career at Upper St. Clair. She is the reigning WPIAL Class 3A champion in the 1,600-meter run and last week placed third at the PIAA Class 3A cross country championships.
Commitments
• Woodland Hills senior football player Rodney Dennard to Howard.
• Kiski Area senior football player Ross Greece to Robert Morris.
• Fox Chapel senior football player Jesse Cohen to Bryant.
• North Allegheny senior soccer player Grant Glorioso to GardnerWebb.
• Fox Chapel senior basketball player Carson Cohen to Tufts.
• Canon-McMillan senior lacrosse player Logan Gebhart to Jesuit.
• Elizabeth Forward senior track and field athlete Daniel Jacobs to Louisville.
• Moon senior baseball player Anthony Fachet to Mercyhurst.
• Knoch senior baseball player Dylan Swarmer to Lackawanna.
• Belle Vernon junior baseball player Josh Hoffman to Youngstown State.