San Benito pitchers Darin Gillies, Bryan Granger each sign a
National Letter of Intent to play D-I baseball
Often steeped in mystery, National Signing Day
— and the days and weeks that follow — usually puts an end to
the second-guessing and predictions that surround college-bound
athletes.
But at least three students at San Benito High School lifted the
decision-making theatrics months ago, even years, and already two
have signed their names on the dotted line.
San Benito pitchers Darin Gillies, Bryan Granger each sign a National Letter of Intent to play D-I baseball
Often steeped in mystery, National Signing Day — and the days and weeks that follow — usually puts an end to the second-guessing and predictions that surround college-bound athletes.
But at least three students at San Benito High School lifted the decision-making theatrics months ago, even years, and already two have signed their names on the dotted line.
Seniors Darin Gillies and Bryan Granger, both starting pitchers for the Haybaler baseball team, put pen to paper last Saturday in front of roughly 40 people at Relax Grillin & Chllin Restaurant, each signing their National Letter of Intent to play Division I baseball.
Gillies signed on to play at Arizona State, where he committed to in April, while Granger backed up the verbal commitment he made in August to Cal Poly — San Luis Obispo.
“It was amazing,” Granger said of Saturday night, when he and Gillies signed their respective letters of intent simultaneously. “It’s hard to explain, a lot of emotions.”
Granger made his official visit to the Central Coast school just three weeks ago, and was able to watch practice, meet with coaches and players, and tour the campus.
“I love it down there,” he said. “I love the weather and everything.”
Granger loved it so much, he made a verbal commitment to the school three and a half months ago, shortly after he made an unofficial visit to the San Luis Obispo campus.
With neither Gillies nor Granger straying from their word, last Saturday’s signing was a mere formality. Meanwhile, senior softball player Jessica Vest, who made a verbal commitment to Oklahoma following her freshman campaign, is expected to sign a National Letter of Intent in the upcoming days.
“It made it real,” said Granger, who was 6-2 with a 1.52 earned run average for the Balers last season. “It takes a weight off your shoulders, that you don’t have to keep looking over your shoulders.
“You don’t have to try and impress anybody. You can just have fun.”
The signed-and-sealed ceremony on Saturday hasn’t necessarily changed the two pitchers’ commitments to the Balers, though.
“Within the last three months, I’ve worked harder in the weight room conditioning than I have my entire life,” Granger said.
Expected to anchor the starting rotation for San Benito in the spring of 2011, Gillies and Granger are preparing to do just that, while also preparing to make an impact right away in college.
“Our class signed 18 players, nine are pitchers,” said Gillies, who was 6-0 with a 1.30 earned run average last season for the Balers. “I’ve got to prove to my coaches why I’m different than the nine other players they brought in.
“Just continue to keep working hard.”
Although it was April when Gillies made his verbal commitment to Arizona State, the 6-foot-4 right-hander visited the Tempe campus as a 13-year-old during travel baseball season, and made a verbal commitment then to his father that he would one day suit up for the Sun Devils.
“That’s kind of where it all started,” Gillies said. “I fell in love with the place right there.”
After each made their verbal commitments, both Gillies and Granger said they still received interest from other schools, pining for their talents. But the two starting pitchers never swayed from their earlier pledges.
For Gillies and Arizona State, Granger and Cal Poly, it was each their No. 1 choice.
“Once they came forward, there was no looking back from there,” Gillies said.
The two hurlers can now focus their attention on the Balers, who will be led by new head coach Jason Bugg and will be shooting for a sixth straight Tri-County Athletic League title.
“It feels a lot better, to be official,” Gillies said.
