Clarksville, TN – Coming off a breakout junior season, Clarksville High School baseball player Brady Cook has signed with NCAA Division II Union University – out of Jackson, TN – to continue his career on the baseball diamond after his prep career is completed.
“I’m excited to know where I’m going and to have the decision out of the way,” Cook said. “It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and now I can just focus on my senior year and go out and do the best that I can.”
“He played a lot as a sophomore and really broke out as a junior last year,” Clarksville High coach Brian Hetland said. “He was a main pitcher for us, but primarily was an outfielder – which he will do in college.
“He led off for us and set the table. He was a big factor in getting the engine going a lot of times in the games that we won.”
Cook will join a Union University team that went 13-34 in its first season at the NCAA Division II level, but is only a year removed from a 39-19-1 season and a spot in the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
“I talked to Trevecca University and Murray State University,” Cook said. “But I went for a visit to Union and they offered and I knew that was where I wanted to be.
“I know they lost some outfielders from last year and I think their leadoff hitter too, so hopefully I’ll be able to step in and be a top of the lineup type of player, with some speed, and get on base a lot.”
Cook’s signing marks the 11th Wildcat baseball player to be signed to either a two- or four-year college baseball scholarship over the past four years.
“It never gets old,” said Hetland in watching another of his players get a chance to play college ball. “It’s a great reward, because I’ve seen Brady from a very young age and seen him grow through the years after coaching him with the Clarksville Orioles and now coaching him at Clarksville High. It’s been a blessing to see it happen.
“I wish they would all do that, to get an opportunity or chance (to play), but not all athletes can. But it’s a special time for his family and it’s very rewarding as a coach to see it happen.”
Hetland also added that Union coaches Brent Fronabarger and Justin Hogan had recruited Cook for a while and are happy he will join the Bulldogs program.
“They are very high on him,” Hetland said. “They feel that he can come in and be a key contributor against legit competition where you can go there and get all of your aspirations accomplished as you could at a lot of schools.”
