Ever since they were youngsters, a quartet of Kosciusko baseball players envisioned playing together at the collegiate level.
Last week, they fulfilled their dreams.
River Burrell, Heath McBride, Will Cook and Evan Scott inked their commitment to continue their academic and baseball careers at Holmes Community College. Tyler VanCise pledged his commitment to Minnesota’s Crown College baseball program.
“This is just what we’ve always wanted to do,” said McBride, a pitcher and outfielder. “We’re all pretty happy about being able to go there and play together and keeping tradition going.”
Will Cook pitches and plays third base for the Whippets. Cook said his experiences of playing with Burrell, McBride, Scott and VanCise date back to kindergarten. While the four have long harbored dreams of playing together at the next level, Cook said he didn’t believe it could actually be possible.
“We never really thought that it could come to fruition,” Cook said. “We always thought it would be cool to play together more. Being able to lock in at least another year playing with your friends is just special, and it doesn’t happen very often.”
Cook said their friendship isn’t exclusive to the baseball diamond.
“We go everywhere (together),” Cook said. “We ride around, hang out at each other’s house and play Xbox. Everything, really.”
While the opportunity to play together for at least another two years was a key factor to the four players signing with Holmes County Community College, Burrell, a shortstop, said he liked the familial vibe he felt when visiting the program and its coaches.
“They’ve got just great facilities over there, and it seems to be like a place that treats you like a family member,” Burrell said.
Like Burrell, Kosciusko catcher Evan Scott said Holmes’ facilities and standing among the state’s program was a big draw. Being able to experience life as a college baseball player alongside his closest friends only enhances that experience.
“I’ve been with these guys since I can remember,” Scott said. “Playing baseball with my buddies is probably the most fun thing I’ve ever done. So being able to play with them means everything to me.”
VanCise will end his years of playing alongside Burrell, McBride, Cook and Scott next year as he travels to Minnesota as a member of Crown College’s baseball team. VanCise’s recruitment to Crown began with a phone call from the school’s baseball coach. He quickly decided it was where he wanted to end up. While the move will take him hundreds of miles from Mississippi, VanCise said he’s received the full blessing of his family.
While VanCise will gain a new group of friends and teammates, a part of his heart will remain with his Kosciusko teammates.
“It’s great; it’s like a family,” said VanCise, a pitcher and first baseman. “It’s a lot of competition, and you have to be the best to play the spot you want — you have to earn it because they’re going to make you work for it.”
First-year Kosciusko baseball coach Derrik Boland said the addition of the Whippet quartet to Holmes’ roster will further boost the team’s chemistry.
“It’s going to help team chemistry,” Boland said. “Having them there together and having those relationships that are already there. It’ll help with team chemistry when they get there, and already having that bond helps a lot.”
