Warren East High School baseball’s Clay Wagoner will be furthering his career on the diamond.
The 6-foot-3 right handed pitcher committed to Freed-Hardeman University, one of the top NAIA schools, back on Jan. 22 and then signed with the program on Friday.
Thankful to publicly announce my commitment! @FHU_LIONS ? pic.twitter.com/6CoEZSQym8
— Clay Wagoner (@CWags26) January 23, 2017
“I chose Freed-Hardeman because they were the first school to contact me,” Wagoner told The Sporting Times. “When I went on my visit, the team was all super friendly and it felt like something I wanted to be a part of. It was also somewhere I could expand in all aspects of life – spiritually, academically and athletically. Plus they are one of the top NAIA programs in the country.”
Just like most athletes, Wagoner says it is a special feeling knowing he will be playing at the next level.
“It’s an absolutely awesome feeling knowing that I will get to compete for the next four years at the collegiate level,” he said. “College ball is something I’ve dreamed about for my whole life and knowing that a lifelong dream of mine is coming true.”
Wagoner is entering his fourth and final season on high school baseball – all with the Raiders’ program. Warren East is coming off a stellar 2016 season, as it finished 23-13 overall – and the player is hoping for another successful campaign this year.
“My goals for my last year of high school baseball are very team centered,” Wagoner stated. “All of us have been playing together for almost our whole lives, (our) team chemistry is great and we have confidence that we can be a great team in this area. We are very hungry for success and really want to win as many games as possible.
“Obviously the (KHSAA) State Tournament is the goal, but we are gonna take it one game at a time and focus on making ourselves the best we can be.”
Warren East opens its 2017 campaign on March 13 against Elizabethtown at its new complex. As of now, first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
