MERRY HILL – Jacob Harrell, second baseman, will leave behind the Lawrence Academy Warriors this fall when he suits up as an Elizabeth City State University Vikings.

An All-State and Most Valuable Player this year, he has been awarded a scholarship from ECSU.

According to those who know him well, he plays with heart, spirit, and good hands.

&uot;Defense would be his strength,&uot; Lawrence head baseball coachRobert Kravitz said.

&uot;His hustle and overall effort would be enough to catch the eye of any coach.&uot;

College baseball will be different than any level Harrell, who started playing baseball at five, has played in before.

In his senior season Harrell hit .338 with 22 RBIs and three homeruns but, according to Kravitz, he will have to work on hitting at the next level.

However, working on any skill should not be a problem for Harrell.

&uot;Jacob is the hardest worker on the team,&uot; Kravitz said.

&uot;He has great leadership ability.

He is always the first to practice and one of the last to leave.&uot;

Harrell visited ECSU and talked with their coach, but those were not the only influences on his choice.

Kravitz attended ECSU and told his player about the experience.

&uot;Coach Kravitz talked about Elizabeth City State,&uot; Harrell said.

&uot;We looked at the school.

I liked the coach there.

I really wanted to go there.&uot;

Making the team is one thing; contributing is another.

Harrell believes he will be able to contribute if he keeps working hard, and Kravitz is sure his player’s success will continue.

&uot;He’ll be missed at Lawrence,&uot; Kravitz said.

&uot;He’ll go to Elizabeth City and have a chance for playing time next year and maybe he’ll become a starter in the next two years.&uot;

Harrell plans to major in Health and Physical Education and pursue a minor in coaching.

Joining him in moving on to play college baseball from Lawrence Academy are Dusty Todd and Jobie Thomas.

Harrell sees playing in college as an opportunity to improve himself.

&uot;I may not be the best player or the fastest person, but I am a hard worker,&uot; Harrell said.

&uot;I think I can help a college team if I can improve myself to that level.&uot;