Batchelor signs with OCC in Chicago

There is no doubt the senior baseball players on the 2011 Russellville squad were a very talented group. Many began signing scholarship offers shortly after graduating in May.

The signing continued through out the summer and ended Tuesday when John Gregory Batchelor became the final senior to sign. The former Golden Tiger first baseman will be taking his talents to Oakton Community College in Chicago.

While it is unusual from players from Franklin County to end up at a junior college more than 600 miles away, the more interesting story is how Batchelor and Oakton became acquainted with each other.

“A guy from there saw me play in the USAAA International Game,” Batchelor said. “The French National Team coach had ties to Oakton.”

While many of his fellow graduates spent the summer in Franklin County, Batchelor was in Europe playing against professional players from Germany and the French National Team.

The coach of the French team liked what he saw from Batchelor and recommended him to Oakton, who had lost its second baseman and was in need of another player. Batchelor will round out the roster and play first base for the Raiders.

Batchelor said he enjoyed the experience in Europe.

“I loved it,” Batchelor said. “We woke up, ate and played. It was a different competition level; it was a good challenge. I met a lot of good people and a lot of good ball players.”

Batchelor’s choice in schools will pull him away from Russellville, a town he loves. He said he couldn’t have had a better experience than the one he had at Russellville and he couldn’t think of anywhere else he would have preferred to grow up.

Batchelor said his senior class was a special group of players and the fact that they had played together since they were six-years-old is one of the reasons they were so successful during their Russellville careers. He also said hard work played a big role in that success.

“I can’t say enough about any one of them,” Batchelor said. “While others were watching T.V. and playing video games, we were playing baseball. They have a good work ethic and are great people. I will never forget them.”

This class will probably be remembered for the 31-game winning streak they put together. As Batchelor leaves one successful team, he is moving on to another — Oakton was 42-17 last year and lost in the regional championship of the playoffs.