Jason Chisari
Staff Writer
Since the age of seven, there hasn’t been a calendar year where Scotland High School starting third baseman and pitcher Tim Chavis hasn’t played baseball nearly year round. From March to November, Chavis has participated in school, summer league, showcase and Optimist Club baseball teams, with little rest in between.
On Monday morning, Chavis celebrated the culmination of his hard work and dedication when he signed on the dotted line to play baseball at Southeastern Community College next year.
“It feels good knowing that I worked so hard to get here and now it’s finally paying off,” said Chavis, who is following up an all-conference junior season by going 3-0 as a starting pitcher for the Fighting Scots this year.
“I’m lucky to get this opportunity, now I want to see how far I can take it,” he said.
Chavis batted .379 last year for Scotland, and his contributions to the mound in 2012 have helped propel the Fighting Scots to an 18-2 season and a current undefeated conference record.
Father Tim Chavis Sr. made sure to help mold his son into an all-around talent at an early age, and it paid dividends as Chavis made the Optimist Club all-star team from age 7 to 12. When he becomes a member of the SCC Rams, Chavis is expected to be the number one or two starting pitcher as a freshman and also man the third base position.
“Tim can play any position on the field that he wants, and that’s something I worked on him with ever since he was little,” Chavis Sr. said. “He now gets the chance to play college ball, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
“He’s been nothing but a role model student athlete for us,” said Scotland head coach and athletic director Tommy Britt. “Tim can hit, play defense and has a live arm up there on the mound, and as long as he puts books before school he will do great things at the next level.”
Chavis’ on-field versatility combined with his crisp hitting made him a prime fit for the SCC rams program, says assistant coach Jason Wood.
“He’s going to be a guy that fits right into our team both as a pitcher and position player,” he said. “Tim is a blue collar player that comes to work and plays hard every single day, and we hope to have him in the middle of our lineup for years to come.”
In terms of his college and career path, Chavis is undecided on what he intends to study. But as the Southeastern Conference Tournament looms on the horizon, Chavis’ immediate goal involves closing his senior season on a championship note.
“This is a different team than last year, we play harder and have way more depth,” Chavis said. “Right now I’m focused on the games to come.”
Post a Comment
