By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell sports editor
SLIDELL — Since he was a little kid, Tyler James wanted to be a professional baseball player.
Well, he just got one step closer.
James signed a scholarship with William Carey College on Monday after just recently graduating from Salmen High School.
James, a shortstop, said WCC contacted him two weeks ago after Salmen played on their college field.
“The coach came down to watch me,” James said.
In the first game, James went 0-1 with three walks and three stolen bases, and in the second game, he went 2-3 with one RBI.
Along with William Carey, Alcorn State University offered James a scholarship along with Bossier Community College.
“William Carey has a really nice facility as far as school and athletics. I really like the coach. He’s a nice guy,” James said.
The local athlete has been playing baseball since he was five years old.
“It’s always been a dream to get to the majors so this is the next step for me,” James said.
While at William Carey, James will play either shortstop or second base.
“I’m more comfortable at second, but I’m pretty good at shortstop. He (William Carey head coach Bobby Halford) said the middle infield is wide open in terms of who is going to start,” James said. “My family loves that I’m going to William Carey because it is so close. They will be able to make the games, and they liked that it is a good school.”
Halford is entering his 27th season as the skipper of Crusader baseball.
Last season the Crusaders went 31-27, finished as runner-up in the SSAC Tournament, and advanced to the opening round of the 2012 NAIA National Tournament.
“Tyler is a middle infielder with a lot of talent and speed, something we like in today’s game. He’s got great potential and could very improve to draw some interest from the majors in a few years, if he continues to progress,” Halford said.
James plans on majoring in mass communications.
The Salmen shortstop said he got his start in baseball because his mom was a second baseman at Salmen when she was in high school.
James has a little brother who is three years old, and a step-sister who is eight years old.