By NOAH FEITGRANITEVILLE -- Midland Valley High School football coach Rick Knight has been to his fair share of signing ceremonies. He's been there to support players when they've signed to play college sports.On Wednesday, Knight was on hand for another signing. This time he wasn't there as a coach but as a father. His son, Midland Valley senior Christopher Knight, signed his letter of intent to play college baseball at USC Salkehatchie.
"I'm very proud," Rick Knight said. "I'm glad he's got the opportunity. He's worked very hard for it."A three-sport athlete at Midland Valley - he played football, basketball and baseball - Christopher Knight will narrow his focus to the diamond for college. That's not to say he'll neglect his studies."One of his best assets is he understands the priorities as a student-athlete and puts the student first," said Mustangs baseball coach Garrett Holmes.
"He's hard-working and an outstanding kid."Knight plans to begin his work toward a degree in secondary education at USC Salkehatchie - a two-year school. He said he wants to become a teacher and coach when he gets his degree.Before then, he's focused on doing the best he can - in the classroom and on the field. Knight said that when he leaves USC Salkehatchie, he hopes it's for a four-year institution where he can complete his studies and continue to play baseball."I want to go there and do big things in my two years, then go to a four-year school," Knight said.
Potential transfer schools include South Carolina and Georgia Southern, which he contemplated attending immediately. He also considered Spartanburg Methodist, another two-year institution. But he was focused on USC Salkehatchie after visiting."The coach was really nice, I liked the atmosphere and the field is really nice," he said of the school approximately 50 miles from Aiken. "The classrooms are small and you get more attention from the teacher. It's like high school."Holmes said that Knight was one of his best hitters and he expects him to have success in college.
He's not sure if Knight will remain a second baseman but is confident he'll excel wherever he plays.
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