Albany Herald

Photo by Danny Aller

SYLVESTER -- Will Peacock did it all for Worth County High.

He was the quarterback of the football team, and played the shooting guard spot for the basketball team, before taking the diamond and pitching for the rams' baseball team.

But it's always been baseball for Peacock, who knew his future was on the diamond. He secured part of that future Friday, signing a letter-of-intent and accepting a baseball scholarship with Southern Union State Community College in Alabama.

"Baseball has always been my favorite sport, and it's what I am the best at,'' Peacock said at the signing. "My brother is a big baseball fan and my father is a real, real big baseball fan, so I grew up with baseball.''

He felt in the back of his mind a scholarship might be there at the end of his high school playing days.

"I kind of hoped I would get a scholarship. I knew if I worked hard enough and did what I was supposed to do that I would have a chance to get one,'' he said. "I was pretty excited about it.''

Peacock went 5-4 with a 3.60 ERA for a Worth team that had a tough, hard-luck season and finished fourth in the Region 1-AAA race. He was a four-year starter for the Rams and had a career record of 9-9.

"He improved a lot between his junior and senior year with his fastball,'' Worth coach Will Smith said. "He's throwing his fastball at 86 mph, and the coaches there felt that at 6-foot 3 and an 86 mph fastball that he has a lot of upside.

"We know that program, because we have had other kids go to school there,'' Smith added. "They are playing in the junior college nationals this year and their leadoff hitter is one of our kids.''

That helped Peacock make his decision.

"I had an offer from ABAC, but after going to (Southern Union) for a workout, I felt that was the best place for me,'' Peacock said. "I liked the coach and it's a real good program, and we've had former players go there. I liked the environment. I figured it would be a better fit for me than ABAC.''

He plans on majoring in education.

"That way when I go on I can (get a degree) and then teach and become a coach,'' Peacock said. "That's what I want to do.''