Grubb signs with WBC

Mohawk baseball standout Tyler Grubb signs his letter of intent last week to play baseball at Williams Baptist College. Joining in the occasion were, from left: Front--his father Mark Grubb, Tyler and his mother Shelley Grubb. Back--Mohawk head baseball coach Shawn Hearn, Tyler's younger brother Trevor and WBC assistant coach Frank Lee. (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

A large crowd of family, friends and supporters gathered at the Piggott High School library last week as Mohawk standout Tyler Grubb signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Williams Baptist College. This marks the first time in over a decade that the Mohawk baseball program has sent a player to the "next level." The last time a member of the Tribe had that honor was 1998 when Michael Hoggard signed to play for Harding University.

"It feels pretty good, I just love the idea of going and playing another four years of baseball," Grubb noted following the signing ceremony, "I really like the coaches and I think the program is just awesome." Grubb, the son of Mark and Shelley Grubb of Piggott, added that he also liked the players that he had come to know..and hoped that some of his teammates from past junior and senior Little League teams might choose to join the WBC squad in the future.

"He was the heart and soul of our pitching staff this year," Mohawk head baseball coach Shawn Hearn noted, "not only was Tyler an amazing pitcher, he's an amazing young man..a good Christian young man and I am so pleased that he is going to a school that is faith based." Hearn added that he hoped, as most high school coaches do, that he has had an impact, "I just hope and pray that some of the lessons I taught him will help him out in life, that's all a high school coach can do is try to teach them about handling life not just throwing a curve ball..but I feel he's got a bright future ahead of him."

"He has a tremendous upside," WBC assistant coach Frank Lee commented following the signing, "his height (6'4") is a big advantage but I don't think he's spent a lot of time in the weight room. We'll work with him and I think he can come in and make an immediate impact..he should work right into our rotation as one of the top four or six guys." Lee also noted that the coaches would be working with Grubb on his fastball, which has been clocked in the mid to upper 80's, along with a cutter and change up, "we feel very fortunate to be able to sign him," he surmised.