Colton Cross just gave his parents an early Christmas present.
The Ringgold High School senior pitcher signed papers to continue his baseball career at Kennesaw State University this past week. He will join his sister and softball team star Jessica Cross and cousin Jensen Hackett at the college.
“We’re very excited to be able to have both children in the same school,” said Jesse Cross, Colton’s father and current Ringgold baseball assistant coach. “Luanne and I couldn’t be happier, but it was Colton’s decision all the way. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us as a family.”
Colton Cross won six games during the 2010 regular season, with a 2.75 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched. He also batted .416 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs for the Class AAA state runners-up.
“Getting this done takes a lot of pressure off,” he said. “Kennesaw has great coaches and they’ve told me they plan to let me pitch and hit, which is something I really wanted. Plus, my sister loves it there.”
LFO’s Bray to Shorter
Also signing in recent days was Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe softball star Maddie Bray.
She chose Rome’s Shorter University, where she plans to major in sports management with an eye toward working with a professional team someday.
“That’s something that sounded very interesting to me, and since I liked the program already, it was an easy decision,” said Bray, who won 14 games with a 0.80 ERA while also leading the Lady Warriors with a .474 batting average, two homers, 17 doubles and 40 RBIs. “Next fall they said I could pitch and hit, and that was a big reason I made the decision.”