Second-day signings
- Updated: November 10, 2016
Jacksonville’s Robinson signs with Miles volleyball in private ceremony; Piedmont’s Kirk signs with Wallace baseball
Jacksonville volleyball player Aniyah Robinson excitedly signs her scholarship papers to play for Miles College as her mother, sister look on.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE (Nov. 10) — Aniyah Robinson was starting to think her volleyball future was a thing of the past, but her dreams were saved from literally miles away.
The Jacksonville senior outside hitter signed to play volleyball with Miles College Thursday in a private ceremony at the Jacksonville Rec Center, the place she said was the foundation for her becoming the athlete she is today.
Miles came late on the scene, but it didn’t take long for Robinson to decide that was the place for her.
“Today was pretty surreal,” she said. “I didn’t believe it was happening to me because I had gotten discouraged coming to the end of my season because I hadn’t talked to many coaches.
“I didn’t mind going to a two-year (junior college), but I wanted to go to a four-year and to have somebody offer me an opportunity to play, that was really good. I honestly couldn’t think about my future without volleyball in it. When (Miles coach Tiffany Hunter) offered me the scholarship I couldn’t believe it. It was everything I could ask for.”
The Lady Golden Bears were one of the teams Robinson reached out to when she started seeking out schools, but hadn’t received a response. Most of the interest she was getting came from Alabama A&M, Bevill State and Southern Union.
Hunter was impressed with Robinson’s play during last month’s regionals and followed her through the Lady Golden Eagles’ two-match run in the Elite Eight. It was after the loss to St. James when she was approached.
“I liked that she had a true interest in me,” Robinson said. “That brought me to the conclusion Miles was a good fit. I wanted to sign ASAP.”
In signing with the Lady Bears, Robinson is said to be the Miles coach’s first signee. Hunter got the job this summer and has spent these early months getting her program through this initial season.
“She was telling me as a new coach she just wanted to rebuild the program and really show people Miles is a really good school,” Robinson said. “She was so excited and very optimistic about next year and that makes me want to just get started.”
Piedmont’s Kirk catches a shot with Wallace-Hanceville
Piedmont senior Easton Kirk (front center) is joined at his signing ceremony by (from left) father Shane, brothers Kyle and Weston, and mother Kellie. (Photo by Shannon Fagan)
PIEDMONT – New Piedmont baseball coach Matt Deerman says Easton Kirk is baseball savvy. No matter if he’s catching, pitching, playing the corners or in the outfield, Kirk “knows the game and he works at it, and that’s a good combination.”
That combination of talent and drive helped the left-handed senior post a .388 batting average with 12 doubles, four home runs, 22 walks, 15 runs and 42 RBIs for the Bulldogs last season. It also helped him earn a college scholarship, signing with Wallace State-Hanceville on Thursday.
“It’s crazy to know I’m going to be playing college baseball,” Kirk said. “I think I’m one of the only catchers they signed for 2017. Both of their catchers graduate, so I think I have a good chance of playing catcher next year for them. They also said they need some corner guys at first and third, so I hope to be playing any one of those (positions).”
James Blanchard has tutored Kirk since his former player was 7. He could tell even then Kirk was going to be a special baseball player.
“At that age, he had a strong arm and he’s always had a good stick,” Blanchard said. “He had all the fundamentals. He wasn’t as fast when he was younger, but as he got older, he worked on his speed a lot. You can play him anywhere – pitching, catching, shortstop, first, outfield. He’s played about everywhere for me. I think he’s going to do well.”
Even at such a young age, Kirk understood the more spots he played, the better his chances of earning a college scholarship.
Deerman said Kirk began talking seriously to him about becoming a college baseball player early in his varsity career. Deerman asked the player to give him four schools he’d like to attend. Wallace and Jacksonville State were at the top of the list.
Kirk said he’s glad everything worked out to where he could sign before his senior season.
“It takes a lot of pressure off,” he said. “Now I don’t have to worry about signing a scholarship. I can put all my efforts in having a good season and hopefully winning a state championship.”
— Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald
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