Jacob Smith signed papers Friday, January 20, to play baseball with Trinity International University. Pictured with him at the signing at HHS are (from left) Assistant Principal Paige Ferguson; his mother, Jenny Tinsley; Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tim Seymour; Jacob; his father, Greg Douglass, and HHS baseball coach Tyler Newman.

Haywood High School senior, Jacob Smith, signed papers on Friday, January 20, to play baseball with Trinity International University (TIU) in Deerfield, Illinois. He is a four-year HHS Tomcat who played first base, DH and pitcher. He is the son of Jenny Tinsley and Greg Douglass.

Trinity is a four-year university where Jacob says he will study sports management. He would like to pursue a career in coaching, become a sports agent, or work for a Major League Baseball organization. Jacob is a member of the HHS Beta Club and has a 3.75 GPA.

The head coach for Trinity is Paul Grotelueschen and the pitching coach is Jesse Katz. Coach Grotelueschen said, “We are thrilled to add a player of Jacob’s baseball ability and character to the Trinity International University program. In addition to being  a great addition to our baseball team, I’m confident Jacob is the kind of young man that will make a a real positive impact on our campus as well.”

Jacob said, “Playing baseball in college will be a dream come true, but there are many people who have helped me to earn this opportunity. I would like to thank the HHS baseball team, including the coaching staff, Tyler Newman, Scott Guymon, and Oscar Esquivias, for all they have done for me over the past years. My amazing parents have helped me in every way they have been able to, and I will forever be grateful for them, but none of this would be possible without our almighty God. He deserves all the glory, because without him nothing is possible, as stated in Matthew 19:26. College baseball is going to be an amazing experience for me to grow athletically, academically, and spiritually.”