Jacob Green shakes hands with Shelton State Community College’s head baseball coach Bobby Sprowl. Green recently signed with the Buccaneers to play baseball next season.

Russellville High School senior and standout pitcher, Jacob Green, made it official this morning when he put pen to paper and officially signed with Shelton State Community College.

Shelton State head baseball coach Bobby Sprowl said he was excited for the program and for Green.

“This is a big day for our program and a big day for Jacob,” Sprowl said. “A lot of division one teams are going to be upset that they didn’t jump on the opportunity to sign him.”

Green and the Golden Tigers begin official practices Jan. 26 and will play their first game Feb. 16.

Golden Tigers head baseball coach, Chris Heaps, said Green has been a big asset for his team over the years.

“He’s been like having another coach around,” Heaps said. “Jacob is going to be successful.”

Green said he had wanted to sign with Shelton State for a while.

“They have a legacy down there,” Green said. “A lot of people might not know that, but their program helps a lot of players move to the next level. I’m really excited.”

Heaps said Green has developed a lot over his time with the Golden Tigers and he expects big things from Green in the future.

“He is such a good player, a really good player,” Heaps said. “But I think he has the potential to be a great player. I think he has a chance to really be great.”

Green is the captain of the baseball team at Russellville and that leadership has been a major role for his development, according to Heaps.

“Jacob has a fantastic work ethic and that shows in just about everything he does,” Heaps said. “He dedicates himself to everything he does and it shows through in what he is able to get out of himself.

“He pitched in 10 or 12 games for us last year and he didn’t have a great record, but we played a very tough schedule last season,” Heaps said. “I expect that to be different this season.”

Heaps said it says a lot about Green for Sprowl to see something in him.

“Jacob has a good breaking pitch and his fastball is usually around the mid-to-upper 80s,” Heaps said. “And he has developed a new pitch, a slider, so he has a lot of tools. But if Coach Bobby Sprowl sees something in you as a pitcher then there is something there because Sprowl is one of the best pitching coaches in the state and he gets a lot out of guys.”

Heaps said Green invested a lot into his body and it is paying off.

“He plays only baseball and so during the fall he has a lot of time to work on strength and work on his arm,” Heaps said. “He has invested a lot of time and effort into his body and I’ve seen him develop over the years. He’s been dedicated to our workout programs and it is paying off for him now.”