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GCT’s Williams headed to UAM
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| Greene County Tech’s Tyler Williams signed a letter of intent Tuesday morning to play college baseball for the University of Arkansas-Monticello. William’s parents and GCT coaches attended the ceremony held in the Tech library. Seated are, from left, Andrea Williams, Tyler Williams and Tony Williams; back, Tech head coach Bruce Hunt and assistant coaches Ryan Carpenter and Orland Crail. Cory Clark/Daily Press |
Eagles standout extends baseball career
By CORY CLARK
cclark@paragoulddailypress.com
When he was a child, Tyler Williams often told his mother that he wanted to play college baseball.
On Tuesday morning Williams, a Greene County Tech graduate, made those words come true when he signed a letter of intent to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
“When I was little, I always told my mom I wanted to play college baseball,” the Eagles’ All-State catcher/outfielder said. “That’s what I wanted to do and now I’m doing it and it’s pretty cool.”
As a junior, Williams helped the Eagles win the 2007 5A state championship.
This season, “T.Y.” batted over .400 and smacked five home runs and was named the most outstanding offensive player on the team, which again qualifed for the 5A state tournament.
On his visit to UAM, Williams said he liked the campus and coaches and said it just felt like the right place for him.
Williams said he hopes to see some playing time as a freshman on the Boll Weevil team.
“I’m ready to play, it’s what I’ve worked for coming into the program as a ninth-grader,” he said.
Williams credited his coaches at Tech for helping him develop as a player. “Coach Hunt will help you with anything you need,” he said. “He really helped me with catching because he was a catcher in college.”
Though assistant coach Ryan Carpenter has only been with the team for two seasons, Williams said Carpenter was always there for him.
“We are really close and he helped me with a lot of things,” he said.
Assistant coach Orland Crail also had a big impact on his game, according to Williams.
“He’s forgot more about baseball than most people know about the game,” he said. “If you just listen to him he will teach you so much.”
On hand for the signing were Williams’ parents, Tony and Andrea, along with his two younger brothers, Tanner and Trayse.
Tony Williams said to see his son achieve his dream of playing college baseball after working so hard for so many years was incredible.
“He has worked so hard to achieve his dream of playing baseball on a collegiate level and now he’s going to get to live that dream,” Williams said. “Words can’t tell you how proud his mother and I are of him.”
At the age of three, his father said Tyler was already was on the path to become a baseball player.
“When he was three-years-old, we used to play rag ball in the yard with him,” he said.
Tech head coach Bruce Hunt said Williams is a player who can play multiple positions on the baseball field.
“Tyler is a real versatile player,” Hunt said. “I believe in college he will be able to play both corner positions in the infield at first and third base and play both corner outfield positions as well.”
Hunt said Williams has a great work ethic and and is a very good teammate.
“He has good work habits and he’s going to be a guy who is going to go down there and find a place to play,” he said. “We are going to miss him and we appreciate what he’s done for our program.”
As he leaves a very successful Tech baseball program, Williams said he will take some great memories with him to Monticello, including winning the 2007 5A state baseball championship.
“That was amazing,” he said.
Newly-hired head UAM baseball coach and former major league draft pick Carlos James said Williams is the type of player he wants to bring into his program.
“I’m getting a player who has high character first and foremost,” James said. “He’s smart and was raised by a good family and I know I’m not going to have to worry about him in the classroom.”
James said along with Williams’ character, comes his winning mentality and that was another aspect of Williams’ game that he said attracted him to the Tech catcher.
“He’s a champion and every team he has played on, especially the ones at Greene County Tech has won,” he said. “But the thing I am most proud of is the type of guy that I am getting.”
According to James, Williams will enter the program as the No. 2 catcher.
James said even though one junior college catcher has already signed and will enter the season as the starter, he thinks it is a perfect situation for Williams to come into to learn about the college game.
Looking to the future, James said he looks for Williams to evetually step into the role of No. 1 catcher.
“I’m looking for him to step into that role in the next two years,” he said. “He’s a student of the game as well so he’s only going to get better.”
When it comes to physical attributes, James said Williams is built to play the game of baseball.
“He’s a big kid,” he said. “He’s got the size and he has the tools and I think he’s got a great upside.”
Though Williams still has a season of American Legion baseball to complete this summer, he said he’s especially looking forward to facing his former GCT teammates, Jacob Giles and Tyler Garnett, who have signed with for Harding University for the next four years.
“I’m hoping they pitch when I play,” he said of his teammates. “I’d really like to get some at-bats against those two.”
On Tuesday morning Williams, a Greene County Tech graduate, made those words come true when he signed a letter of intent to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
“When I was little, I always told my mom I wanted to play college baseball,” the Eagles’ All-State catcher/outfielder said. “That’s what I wanted to do and now I’m doing it and it’s pretty cool.”
As a junior, Williams helped the Eagles win the 2007 5A state championship.
This season, “T.Y.” batted over .400 and smacked five home runs and was named the most outstanding offensive player on the team, which again qualifed for the 5A state tournament.
On his visit to UAM, Williams said he liked the campus and coaches and said it just felt like the right place for him.
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“I’m ready to play, it’s what I’ve worked for coming into the program as a ninth-grader,” he said.
Williams credited his coaches at Tech for helping him develop as a player. “Coach Hunt will help you with anything you need,” he said. “He really helped me with catching because he was a catcher in college.”
Though assistant coach Ryan Carpenter has only been with the team for two seasons, Williams said Carpenter was always there for him.
“We are really close and he helped me with a lot of things,” he said.
Assistant coach Orland Crail also had a big impact on his game, according to Williams.
“He’s forgot more about baseball than most people know about the game,” he said. “If you just listen to him he will teach you so much.”
On hand for the signing were Williams’ parents, Tony and Andrea, along with his two younger brothers, Tanner and Trayse.
Tony Williams said to see his son achieve his dream of playing college baseball after working so hard for so many years was incredible.
“He has worked so hard to achieve his dream of playing baseball on a collegiate level and now he’s going to get to live that dream,” Williams said. “Words can’t tell you how proud his mother and I are of him.”
At the age of three, his father said Tyler was already was on the path to become a baseball player.
“When he was three-years-old, we used to play rag ball in the yard with him,” he said.
Tech head coach Bruce Hunt said Williams is a player who can play multiple positions on the baseball field.
“Tyler is a real versatile player,” Hunt said. “I believe in college he will be able to play both corner positions in the infield at first and third base and play both corner outfield positions as well.”
Hunt said Williams has a great work ethic and and is a very good teammate.
“He has good work habits and he’s going to be a guy who is going to go down there and find a place to play,” he said. “We are going to miss him and we appreciate what he’s done for our program.”
As he leaves a very successful Tech baseball program, Williams said he will take some great memories with him to Monticello, including winning the 2007 5A state baseball championship.
“That was amazing,” he said.
Newly-hired head UAM baseball coach and former major league draft pick Carlos James said Williams is the type of player he wants to bring into his program.
“I’m getting a player who has high character first and foremost,” James said. “He’s smart and was raised by a good family and I know I’m not going to have to worry about him in the classroom.”
James said along with Williams’ character, comes his winning mentality and that was another aspect of Williams’ game that he said attracted him to the Tech catcher.
“He’s a champion and every team he has played on, especially the ones at Greene County Tech has won,” he said. “But the thing I am most proud of is the type of guy that I am getting.”
According to James, Williams will enter the program as the No. 2 catcher.
James said even though one junior college catcher has already signed and will enter the season as the starter, he thinks it is a perfect situation for Williams to come into to learn about the college game.
Looking to the future, James said he looks for Williams to evetually step into the role of No. 1 catcher.
“I’m looking for him to step into that role in the next two years,” he said. “He’s a student of the game as well so he’s only going to get better.”
When it comes to physical attributes, James said Williams is built to play the game of baseball.
“He’s a big kid,” he said. “He’s got the size and he has the tools and I think he’s got a great upside.”
Though Williams still has a season of American Legion baseball to complete this summer, he said he’s especially looking forward to facing his former GCT teammates, Jacob Giles and Tyler Garnett, who have signed with for Harding University for the next four years.
“I’m hoping they pitch when I play,” he said of his teammates. “I’d really like to get some at-bats against those two.”
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