MTZ’s Hamrick to play baseball at Rend Lake

Ethan Hamrick signing his letter of intent to play baseball at Rend Lake College surrounded by his mother, father, brother and Coach Arnold at the Mt. Zion Braves’ signing day.

By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer

Mt. Zion senior baseball player Ethan Hamrick has signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Rend Lake College.

Hamrick played football, basketball and baseball in his time at Mt. Zion. Currently Hamrick is playing primarily shortstop for the Braves’ baseball team. Hamrick stated he always wanted to go to a junior college for two years and to move on and on his visit he fell in love with the coaches and team during his visit.

Hamrick learned in his years at Mt. Zion that there is more to athletics then on the field or court and he learned that from his coaches.

“I hope I can carry that over and the leadership qualities I have learned,” Hamrick said. I have been a leader on most of my teams.”

Mt. Zion head coach J.D. Arnold has coached Hamrick at the Decatur Commodores and this year in Mt. Zion. Coach Arnold has seen Hamrick develop from a small quiet kid to a more physical, bigger and outgoing young adult.

“You can see him kind of develop into his own as the years have gone on,” Coach Arnold said. “And that just breeds confidence and the more confident he’s got, the bigger physically he’s gotten and the more personal he’s gotten both with his teammates and with myself.

Hamrick plans to major in business management. His academic goal for his first year of college is to average a 4.0 GPA. On the field he hopes to explode and get some offers from four year universities.

Coach Arnold said the lasting marks Hamrick will leave on the Mt. Zion baseball program is his leadership by example is laying the groundwork for what Coach Arnold hopes to implement in the program years down the line.

“Ethan’s a big part of it, because he’s our senior leader, and he’s the leader of the team,” Coach Arnold said. “What he’s doing for these younger guys is gonna just continue to get passed down from year to year to year. And hopefully it’s going to make us where we don’t miss a beat here in the next couple of years without him.”

Coach Arnold said his last words of advice to Hamrick will be to keep his head up and keep grinding.

“There’s going to be some failure that’s going to happen in college baseball and especially the league that he’s going to,” Coach Arnold said. “But if he keeps his head down, keeps grinding and keeps working everything will be just fine.”

When asked what he will miss most about Mt. Zion, Hamrick said it will be his friends.

“This year and last year we’ve become a great group of guys that are really good friends and we hang out off the field all the time, so I’m going to miss them,” Hamrick said.