Senior Paul Wilson walks down the stairs and opens the varsity baseball locker room door and is met by teammates listening to music and getting dressed for the game. Wilson walks over to his locker, unlocks it, and takes his cleats, pants, and number-6 jersey, the same jersey he has been sporting for four years.

Wilson has been on the varsity baseball team since his freshman year. However, Wilson says he  has progressed in all facets of the game over his four years both on and off the field, becoming a better player and a better leader.

Wilson was mainly a pitcher in his freshman year, but has become an infielder as well. Last year, he played both third base and shortstop in addition to pitching. This year he is getting more action at the plate, on the mound, and in the field. According to Wilson, there has been a huge difference in his hitting this year compared to the last three years. “Pitching was my main thing, so I didn’t get as many at-bats,” Wilson said, “But I haven’t gotten this many at bats before.”

Wilson credits this increase in at-bats to his work in the offseason. “I got on a really good weight program, and I’ve gotten a lot stronger. It’s helped with fielding, hitting, and pitching. I’ve increased my bat speed and built my confidence, too,” Wilson said. Now, he is enjoying his most productive season from the plate, hitting .400 as of April 29.

Wilson says he has put the work in off the field, as well, making him not only a better player, but also a better leader. “I studied the game and all the positions more, and it enabled me to play shortstop more,” Wilson said. He also says that he always listened to the upperclassmen on the teams he was on earlier in high school, and it helped him become a better leader and prepared him to be a good senior captain.

Wilson says he has grown close and learned from varsity head coach and Athletic Director Steve Teter and varsity pitching coach Darrion Siler, and the two of them have taken notice of his character on and off the field. “He’s a hard worker, and he listens well,” Teter said, “he is mature beyond his years.”

“Paul is eager, diligent, and incredibly coachable. He’s a quiet leader,” Siler said.

Despite playing third base and shortstop for the last two years of his high school career, Wilson is going to college to pitch. He is committed to Millersville University, a Division II college in Pennsylvania. “They have a rising program and have accomplished a lot, including the number 1 overall ranking in Division II baseball,” Wilson said.

Wilson says that once he hangs the spikes up for the last time as a JC baseball player, he will miss the family atmosphere the most. “All four teams that I have been on here have been a lot of fun, even if we haven’t been very successful,” Wilson said. Wilson now faces the challenge of going to another school and establishing himself there, as he is very comfortable at JC. “Once I get to college, I’m going to have to prove to my teammates and coaches that I am both a good teammate and a good player,” Wilson said.

Daniel Robinson is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.