Trapp signs baseball scholarship with UAH
By Staff
Kim West
Three-sport star Cory Trapp capped a record-setting career at Russellville by signing a baseball scholarship with the University of Alabama-Huntsville at the RHS Field House Friday afternoon.
Trapp, who batted .330 this season while splitting time at shortstop and pitcher, said he expects to compete for a spot in the middle infield for UAH, which belongs to the Division II Gulf South Conference.
"I like all the UAH coaches and it's a really nice campus, plus it's a lot closer to home than the other schools that offered me a scholarship," said Trapp, who weighed offers to play both football and baseball at the Division III level and a baseball offer from Delta State. "I had it narrowed down between UAH and Delta State, and making this decision took a lot of stress off. I have a chance to play right away at UAH, and I'll be able to focus on one sport."
Trapp, who was named the area player of the year in 2007, helped the No. 8 Golden Tigers advance to the state quarterfinals the past two years and went 8-4 with five saves and only 19 earned runs allowed in 63 2/3 innings pitched this season.
Russellville baseball coach David Ward said Trapp's versatility and ability in the clutch will be hard to replace.
"It's hard to see him go and it will be hard to replace him because he could play anywhere and if we got into a pitching bind, we could go to him anytime and he'd save the game for you," Ward said. "He could be All-State in three sports, and the sky's the limit for him because now he will be able to concentrate on baseball. It's hard to be successful in all three sports like he has, but he has a great work ethic."
Trapp (5-10, 152) was also the starting quarterback for the eighth-ranked football team (4,909 yards, 191 completions, 54 touchdown passes from 2004-07) and the leading scorer for the basketball team, which advanced to the Class 5A championship game last season. He is the school's all-time leading 3-point shooter and finished among the top 5 in the AHSAA record books, including most 3-pointers made in a game (12, fourth place), season (137, third) and career (394, second).
Russellville football coach Doug Goodwin said Trapp's unrelenting will to win that sets him apart.
"He has great competitiveness, and doesn't let a lack of size slow him down," Goodwin said. "His best characteristic as an athlete is having a great desire to excel, and that's something you can't teach, at least not at the level it takes to be succesful."
Trapp is the son of Greg and Donna Trapp of Russellville.
