BY CLIFF SMELLEY
It was a quick recruiting process, but that’s because Union County High School senior Erick Lasseter found a place that truly feels like home.
Lasseter signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Division II Glenville State University during a Jan. 28 ceremony in the UCHS media center.
“It just felt like somewhere I wanted to be for the next four years,” Lasseter said of the West Virginia school.
UCHS Head Coach Jiwan James said Lasseter had become frustrated when he wasn’t hearing from colleges. James told him he needed to change his body, so Lasseter hit the weight room.
“He took it to heart, and he went to work,” James said.
Lasseter said, “I really started looking at myself and realized that I had to get myself prepared for the next level.”
He posted videos of himself on X, which were seen by a Glenville State coach. The coach was already aware of Lasseter, but he was impressed with the new-look Lasseter. Lasseter went on a visit to Glenville State and received an offer.
“This recruitment process literally happened about a two-week span,” James said, adding, “That just goes to show that the weight room and doing what you’re supposed to do pay off.”
Lasseter said, “When I got there, it just felt like home. They’re about the same size as Lake Butler. Everybody knew each other.”
The fact that Lasseter did what he needed in order to change physically was no surprise to James.
“His work ethic put him in this position,” James said. “For four years now, I’ve watched him show up every single morning that we had workouts.”
James said the only workouts Lasseter missed this past fall were on Friday mornings. Lasseter was on the UCHS football team, so James told him not to show up on Fridays.
Lasseter is going to Glenville State to play at first or third base, which are the same positions he’s played at UCHS. James said Lasseter, who also pitches for the Tigers, could play anywhere defensively.
“He’s very versatile and reliable,” James said. “He’s going to make all the plays.”
Lasseter is coming off a 2025 season in which he was second on the team in batting average at .337. The lefty batter led the team in RBI with 26 and drew the most walks at 20. He was tied for second in fewest strikeouts and was third in fielding percentage at .972.
“He gives us really good at-bats,” James said. “He doesn’t swing at a lot of bad pitches.”
A versatile player in the field and a solid bat. That’s what Glenville State will get with Lasseter, but James said the Pioneers will also get a leader with an outgoing personality.
“It won’t be like he’s a new kid,” James said. “He’s never met a stranger. He’s not going to be some quiet kid going up there. He’s going to be a leader from day one.”
In fact, Lasseter is already bonding with his future teammates.
“I think I’m going to fit in really good,” he said. “When I went up there for my visit and everything, I got to spend all day with the team. They all had conversations with me. I’ve got them all on social media already. We’ve already got a good connection.”
His personality will help him settle in at a campus that’s 700-plus-miles from home.
“It’s going to hurt me a little bit at first,” Lasseter said of being away from home, “but once I get up there, and I start meeting all the boys and hanging out with them, it’s going to feel like I’m in Lake Butler.”
Before that, though, Lasseter is ready for his last season at UCHS.
“I hope in my senior year that my boys and I go win a state championship,” he said. “I feel like this year is going to be the year. Practice has been different. Everybody’s been playing well together.”
Many high school student-athletes believe they’ll be nervous at first when they step onto the field for the first time as a collegiate athlete, but Lasseter isn’t expecting that. Playing in college was what he set out to do. Now that he’s committed to a school, he doesn’t have to worry about making his dream come true.
“I’m going to be more relaxed (than nervous),” Lasseter said. “The weight’s going to be off my shoulders. I’m going to feel so calm out there.
“I’m excited.”
