For many high school student athletes, the pinnacle of achievement is inking that scholarship offer to play college ball. For Russ Carpenter and Skylar Holland of Russellville High School, that pinnacle was reached Tuesday afternoon.

Carpenter and Holland both signed to play baseball at Martin Methodist University in Tennessee during a signing ceremony at the RHS fieldhouse, surrounded by teammates, friends and family. The momentous celebration represented the continuous of years of playing America’s Pastime.

Coach Chris Heaps commended both Golden Tigers for their accomplishments, driven by skill, work ethic and love of the game. “These guys are taking this next step after high school … I’m very proud,” Heaps said.

Carpenter, Heaps said, has amassed “some really big hits and some really big games for us” this year, along with solid stats – .370 in limited at-bats, four doubles and nine RBIs – for the 2015-2016 championship season. “Russ was ‘just O.K.’ at the beginning, but he was very solid and a state championship caliber catcher by the end of that run,” Heaps said.

Holland, who moved to Russellville from Hartselle, has also been a key part of RHS’ program, recording 62 RBIs in last year’s championship season, along with a .318 batting average, 15 doubles and seven home runs. This year, he has improved his batting average and notched 17 doubles – thus far – along with solid pitch stats.

“I can’t tell you how important these two guys have been to our success the past two years,” Heaps added. “I’ve been proud of how these guys have responded to adversity and how they have handled themselves as leaders.”

The soon-to-be RedHawks will play under a coaching staff that includes coach Kelly Bratton, who was on hand for the ceremony Tuesday. “We’re super proud to have these guys. We always want good guys from good programs that know how to win, that have been through tough games,” Bratton said. “We have a really good, young recruiting class coming in this year.”

For Carpenter, signing to play college ball has been “a pretty big dream.” “Every kid thinks about being a college baseball player whenever they are little,” Carpenter said.

Holland said he is excited to continue playing the game he loves. “This is a dream come true,” he said. “My goal was always to take baseball as far as I can take it.” He was sold on Martin Methodist with the guaranteed opportunity to play multiple positions on the field. “There’s just a feeling that can’t be explained when you’re on the baseball field.”

Holland aims to major in business prior to pursuing law and sports management degrees. Carpenter is still considering different major options.