By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
LEEDS – The hits just keep coming, as they say. The Leeds Greenwave, fresh off of a soccer signing and a historical tennis signing a couple weeks ago, held a ceremony on Monday morning to celebrate the signings of two of their top baseball players, a pair of lefties, to play the sport they love at the collegiate level.
Dax Phillips signed to play at Lawson State. Phillips finished his junior year with a 7-3 record, 50.1 innings pitched, 40 strikeouts while hitting 3.06 at the plate for Leeds. He looks to do even bigger and better things this year as a senior. “I look forward to big things this season. I have been playing with this group my whole live, with the exception of three years I played over at Moody. This team is great. We have some guys coming up who have so much potential to go far and play at the next level and I am excited to see what we do as a team this year.”
Phillips spoke of what the day means to him and who he has to thank for getting him this far. “This feels great. I cannot wait. It has always been a dream to play college baseball. I wanted to play for Lawson because Coach Roberts is a great coach, and he coached my brother 10 years ago at Miles. I have so much respect for him and the program at Lawson. I want to thank my parents, my brother, TJ, and my whole family and all of my coaches here for always pushing me to be the best I can be not only on the field but in school and in life.”
The other signee, left-handed pitcher and center fielder Nolan Moore, will be signing to play college baseball at Gadsden State. Moore was 4-4 pitching with a 3.10 ERA and 52 strikeouts. At the plate, he hit .273. Nolan said of the coming senior season, “I am looking forward to a strong senior season and making a good run. I am going to cherish every moment of it because it has all gone by too fast.”
“It is very exciting,” said Moore. “Looking back at when I started playing at the age of three, I never would have thought I would be here
today. It is a blessing. I wouldn’t be here without God and my family, friends and coaches. They all push me to be the best version of myself and hold me accountable. John 13:7 “You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will understand it later.” This verse has stuck with me for a long time, and I wanted to share it. I have gone through some adversity and wondered why, but at the end of it, it makes you so much of a better person and I want everyone to know that everything happens for a reason. I chose Gadsden State because I know that coach Lewis and the team is the best fit for me and his style of coaching will get me to be the best I can be.”
Greenwave head baseball coach Jake Wingo said the following about these two young men. “They both have a tremendous work ethic. They are always the first to show up and last ones to leave. They have always led by example. Playing at the next level has been a goal of theirs and it is a rewarding feeling to see them reach that goal. They both deserve it, so I am very happy for them. I am very proud of them and excited to see what they can do for Leeds this year and what the future holds for both of them.”