Eagle standout Harrington happy to be playing again

TEXARKANA, Texas — Zac Harrington is in the season of his collegiate baseball swan song.

Harrington, a senior right-handed pitcher at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, is a leader for the Eagles and has played under head coach Steve Jones for three years.

“Coach Jones expects a lot out of us, but we know what the expectations are,” Harrington said. “He wants us to be good citizens, students and community members. He expects us to work hard and do what we can to help the team win. Coach Jones challenges us, helps us grow each day and helps us get better.”

Harrington graduated from Southern Arkansas University and is earning his master’s degree in business administration from TAMU-T. He joined the Eagles to earn his graduate degree and to play baseball.

The 23-year-old pitcher is originally from Magnolia, Ark., where he graduated high school and later college.

“I enjoy the relationships that come with baseball,” Harrington said. “I enjoy the time I get to spend with teammates, on and off the field. I am pretty competitive, so baseball gives me a good avenue to get that out.

“One of the biggest challenges as a pitcher is staying composed. I have to try not to let the ups and downs of the game affect me. Teammates look to me to be the guy in control and to lead the way, instead of allowing the highs and lows of the game affect me.”

Harrington is excited to get to play in what will be, potentially, a full season. Last season was cut short doing his senior year because of COVID-19.

“My personal goal is to have as much fun as possible,” he said. “I just want to enjoy my last season as we try to win as many games as we can along the way.”

Harrington was supposed to graduate in May and, technically, he did. But the Eagle pitcher added supply chain management concentration onto his degree in order to play another year. He will finish up his master’s degree this May.

“A good leader keeps his composure,” Harrington said. “Also, he is the same guy every day and does not let circumstances of life affect his baseball. The leader also works hard and gives it his all.

“I would like for us to win the conference championship, make it to regional, win regional and make it to the World Series. Eagle baseball starting back up was pretty exciting for me. I was tired of sitting around with not much to do. I had five months with no baseball. It was exciting to be back on the field with my teammates.”