Carter signs with WBC to play baseball

Shown during Austin Carter's siging of the letter of intent to play baseball with Williams Baptist College are, from left: Front - Shawn Carter, father, Carter and Trumann Coach Steve Edwards. Back - Williams baseball coach, Frank Lee. (Democrat photo/Ruth Ann Estes) [Click to enlarge]

A member of the freshman class Williams Baptist College will be welcoming in September will a new baseball recruit from Trumann. Utility player, Austin Carter inked a letter of intent to play for WBC Tuesday morning.

A starter since his freshman season, Carter has been one of the mainstays for the Wildcats in the past four seasons. Adept at playing both infield and outfield, Carter's .326 batting average was instrumental in helping the Cats to an 11-12 recording during their late-season surge last year.

Trumann just missed a chance to play in the Regional tournament when Pocahontas cut their season short in the semi-finals of the 4A-3 district tournament.

"He can play anywhere you want on the field," said coach Wildcat assistant Steve Edwards who was present at the signing. "He's a baseball coach's dream, because you can put him out there and he'll get the job done. They're getting a player who works hard in the classroom too.

People will look at what he does on the baseball field but at his overall character. He's going to be an example with the way he leads."

Carter, who is primarily a second baseman, made only two errors last season, showing just how much talent the 5-8, 160 pounder has with his glove.

"He really knows ho to read the ball off the bat." Continued Edwards. "He can read a batter and tell where the ball is going as soon as it leaves the bat. He just picks up the ball well and never got burned this year."

Carter is looking forward to helping in any way possible when he joins the Eagles for next season. Playing in the NAIA American West Conference, WBC finished with just a 12-35 record.

Eagle coach Frank Lee is looking for Carter to begin helping his team almost immediately.

"He put the bat on the ball just about every time I saw him this year," Lee said. "He's very athletic, a good player in the field and will be a pretty valuable player to have around for whatever the situation."

"I'm really excited about the chance to continue playing baseball," Carter said at the signing. "I couldn't bare the thought of my baseball career coming to an end and this gives me a chance to continue it. I just want to do whatever I can do to help."

When he dons the Eagles' colors next spring, Carter will join Wildcat teammate TeJay Moye who signed with the Eagles last March.