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GCT's Giles inks baseball letter with Harding
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| Greene County Tech pitcher Jacob Giles signs a letter of intent Wednesday to continue his baseball career at Harding University. Cory Clark/Daily Press |
Eagles' pitcher to continue career on diamond
By CORY CLARK
cclark@paragoulddailypress.com
Last October, Greene County Tech senior Jacob Giles sat in a hospital after a car wreck left him with two compound fractures in his leg.
On Wednesday, the long road to recovery culminated in the Greene County Tech Junior High library as Giles signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for Harding University.
Giles, a six-foot, 200-pound left-handed pitcher, said Harding was the perfect fit for him.
“I’m pretty excited and happy to be able to keep playing,” Giles said. “They are a Christian school and that was a big draw and I just liked everything about the school.”
After a successful junior year last season in which the Golden Eagles won the 5A state baseball championship, Giles was even more dominating this season as he posted a 4-2 record with 72 strikeouts while only walking an astonishing five batters all season long.
Giles said he is looking forward to the opportunity to take his game to the next level.
“I’m looking forward to playing against better competition and taking my game up a notch,” he said. “I just hope I can stay as disciplined and determined as I have through high school.”
The hard work and discipline that Giles speaks of tells a lot about what kind of player he is, according to Tech head baseball coach Bruce Hunt.
Hunt said when Giles first joined the program as a freshman, he was not even close to the player he is today.
Giles also admitted that when he first wanted to play baseball, he lacked the conditioning.
But once he started improving his physical conditioning, Hunt said he took off and became a key pitcher for the Golden Eagles.
“Jacob is a guy who has really made himself into a ballplayer and he’s one of the hardest workers on our team,” Hunt said. “And I’m proud of him for what he has accomplished.”
Giles said to get into shape, he cut out sodas and started running and he even joined the cross country track team to get himself into better shape.
“One morning before morning practice I got up at 5:30 and ran a mile and half,” he said. “It was like 18 degrees outside.”
It was mornings like that day that really tell what kind of character the new Harding signee has, according to his coach.
Hunt said Giles has improved as much as any player he has ever coached and that he is an example to all of the younger players on the team.
“He’s done all of the little things to pay the price to make himself into a ballplayer,” he said.
“And now he’s going to have the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Both Hunt and Giles credit assistant coach Orland Crail for Giles’ development as a pitcher.
Giles said Crail worked with him and was there for him as a coach and as a friend.
“From day one Orland has helped me,” Giles said. “He’s been a big part in my success.”
“Coach Crail helped him a lot,” Hunt added. “Orland knows a lot about pitching and he is very good with our pitchers.”
Hunt said it is rare for a pitcher to have such a great statistical season like Giles had this season.
“Statistically it’s one of the best seasons we have ever had at Greene County Tech,” he said.
Away from the diamond, Hunt said Giles is also a great person.
“He’s phenomenal away from the field,” he said. “He’s a great kid and he comes from a really good family and they have done a great job raising him.”
Jacob’s father, Scott Giles, said he is proud of what his son has accomplished and of all of the hard work his son has put in over the past three years.
“I’m really proud of him and he’s done a really good job,” Giles said. “I just want him to do down there and do the best he can and I’m looking forward to watching him play.”
After seeing what his son went through last October, Giles said it made Wednesday’s signing even more special.
“That was tough for him,” he said of the accident. “He really was not able to pitch until the season started.”
Sharlene, Jacob’s mother, said she was thrilled that her son would be attending both parents’ alma mater.
“I’m just proud of him and I’m glad he’s going to Harding,” she said. “I think it will be a good fit for him.”
As he looked to the future, Jacob Giles said he hopes to get some playing time this season.
“I am definitely hoping to get some playing time,” he said. “I’ll just go out and try to make myself the best player I can be.”
On Wednesday, the long road to recovery culminated in the Greene County Tech Junior High library as Giles signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for Harding University.
Giles, a six-foot, 200-pound left-handed pitcher, said Harding was the perfect fit for him.
“I’m pretty excited and happy to be able to keep playing,” Giles said. “They are a Christian school and that was a big draw and I just liked everything about the school.”
After a successful junior year last season in which the Golden Eagles won the 5A state baseball championship, Giles was even more dominating this season as he posted a 4-2 record with 72 strikeouts while only walking an astonishing five batters all season long.
Giles said he is looking forward to the opportunity to take his game to the next level.
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The hard work and discipline that Giles speaks of tells a lot about what kind of player he is, according to Tech head baseball coach Bruce Hunt.
Hunt said when Giles first joined the program as a freshman, he was not even close to the player he is today.
Giles also admitted that when he first wanted to play baseball, he lacked the conditioning.
But once he started improving his physical conditioning, Hunt said he took off and became a key pitcher for the Golden Eagles.
“Jacob is a guy who has really made himself into a ballplayer and he’s one of the hardest workers on our team,” Hunt said. “And I’m proud of him for what he has accomplished.”
Giles said to get into shape, he cut out sodas and started running and he even joined the cross country track team to get himself into better shape.
“One morning before morning practice I got up at 5:30 and ran a mile and half,” he said. “It was like 18 degrees outside.”
It was mornings like that day that really tell what kind of character the new Harding signee has, according to his coach.
Hunt said Giles has improved as much as any player he has ever coached and that he is an example to all of the younger players on the team.
“He’s done all of the little things to pay the price to make himself into a ballplayer,” he said.
“And now he’s going to have the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Both Hunt and Giles credit assistant coach Orland Crail for Giles’ development as a pitcher.
Giles said Crail worked with him and was there for him as a coach and as a friend.
“From day one Orland has helped me,” Giles said. “He’s been a big part in my success.”
“Coach Crail helped him a lot,” Hunt added. “Orland knows a lot about pitching and he is very good with our pitchers.”
Hunt said it is rare for a pitcher to have such a great statistical season like Giles had this season.
“Statistically it’s one of the best seasons we have ever had at Greene County Tech,” he said.
Away from the diamond, Hunt said Giles is also a great person.
“He’s phenomenal away from the field,” he said. “He’s a great kid and he comes from a really good family and they have done a great job raising him.”
Jacob’s father, Scott Giles, said he is proud of what his son has accomplished and of all of the hard work his son has put in over the past three years.
“I’m really proud of him and he’s done a really good job,” Giles said. “I just want him to do down there and do the best he can and I’m looking forward to watching him play.”
After seeing what his son went through last October, Giles said it made Wednesday’s signing even more special.
“That was tough for him,” he said of the accident. “He really was not able to pitch until the season started.”
Sharlene, Jacob’s mother, said she was thrilled that her son would be attending both parents’ alma mater.
“I’m just proud of him and I’m glad he’s going to Harding,” she said. “I think it will be a good fit for him.”
As he looked to the future, Jacob Giles said he hopes to get some playing time this season.
“I am definitely hoping to get some playing time,” he said. “I’ll just go out and try to make myself the best player I can be.”
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