BY CLIFF SMELLEY
The Keystone Heights High School baseball program lost Andrew Wilson for the 2024 season when he moved to another school, but Wilson returned to KHHS, helped the Indians put together a 19-9 season in that included a district championship and then became just the latest senior to earn a college opportunity.
Wilson signed his letter of intent on May 19 to play for Franklin Springs, Georgia’s Emmanuel University, whose program competes at the Division II level.
“It’s always been my dream to play college baseball, so I’m very thankful for the opportunity and excited that I get to continue playing,” Wilson said following his signing ceremony, which took place in the KHHS cafetorium.
This marked the third signing ceremony this year for a KHHS baseball player, and it looks as if there will be one or two more players who’ll eventually sign as well.
KHHS Head Coach Chris Roach said that’s a testament to the desire and work ethic of the senior group.
“It’s easier to coach gamers who want to go out there and go after it rather than put somebody in a stronghold just to make them go do the game that they love,” Roach said.
If anybody is a “gamer,” it is certainly Wilson. Roach said Wilson is probably the “grittiest” player he’s seen in 20-plus years of coaching at KHHS. That’s in reference to the amount of work Wilson puts in at whatever position he’s playing.
“He’s not about flash,” Roach said. “He’s about getting better at everything he does.”
Wilson played primarily catcher and shortstop this past season, but Roach said, “You could’ve put him at first base, and he would’ve worked to be the best first baseman he could be.”
“I think for college, that’s going to be helpful for me,” Wilson said. “There are a lot of different spots they can put me in. If I can do every single one of them, I’ll have more opportunities to get onto the field.”
Wilson would prefer to play one of the two positions he mostly played at this past season, especially catcher.
“I’m a catcher. That’s what I do,” Wilson said, adding, “I feel like it’s kind of the main role on the team. I like to be the one who always has the ball, basically.”
Roach agreed that catching is Wilson’s “number-one thing” and said the way he plays that position is a bit of a throwback.
“His brain to catch works really well,” Roach said. “He’s always watching the game. He reminds me of an old-school catcher who had to observe versus the new-school, where everything’s signaled in. He watches the game very well.”
Wilson batted .306 this past season. He shared the team lead for home runs (2), was second in RBI (20) and walks drawn (19) and third in on-base percentage (.491).
The soon-to-be Emmanuel Lion said batting this past season “was kind of rough at points mentally.” Wilson’s goal is to get to where he’s not overthinking his offensive approach.
“Basically, just get past the mental part of it and just hit like I hit,” he said. “I feel like I do better when I don’t think very much.”
That’s part of what Wilson will be working on in transitioning to play at the next level. He said he wants to be more consistent and hit the ball harder.
“You can’t have the ups and downs,” Wilson said. “You’ve got to have a consistent season.”
Roach said that grittiness that Wilson possesses will help him as he adapts to playing college ball.
“His competitiveness is bar none,” Roach said. “He’s going to go after it. His work ethic, being in the gym, being at the hitting facility — all those things are going to be a plus for him.”
When Wilson steps onto the field for the first time at Emannuel, it will literally be a dream come true.
“That’s where I’ve always wanted to be,” he said.
