The transfer portal has afforded college athletes the ability to change schools without losing a year of eligibility.
While that comes as a positive for athletes looking for a new beginning, it has also limited the opportunities for high school graduates anxious to play at the next level.
Wednesday afternoon at Linda K. Epling Stadium, Beckley standout Ari Payne became one of the select few to grab a coveted spot at the next level when he signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Bluefield University.
“There are a lot of emotions going around right now. I feel a little nervousness and excitement,” Payne said. “It’s a new thing and a big thing, but I am pretty excited about the opportunity to take my baseball career further.”
Payne also admitted there was a sense of relief that came from realizing his dream to play at the next level.
“Playing college baseball has been a big dream of mine for a long time, but I never really thought it would happen honestly,” Payne said. “I never expected myself to be here on this day, but it feels really good to be here.”
The road to the college baseball diamond has been a bumpy one for Payne, but to his credit, he stayed the course to realize his goal.
“This whole four years of high school has been hard. We didn’t have our freshman year (because of the Covid shutdown). We had a coach our sophomore year that decided to leave for unforeseen circumstances,” Payne explained. “We had another coach last year, then coach Mike (McKinney) came in this year and really helped the program a lot. I think if this team had two more years with him we could be in the state championship.”
Although McKinney only had Payne for one year, he quickly liked what he saw in his young star.
“The first impression is he is just a good person. You ask him to do anything and he does it,” McKinney said. “He is a hard-nosed kid that never complains. He is the ultimate leader and a hard worker. That is the way he was raised.”
Beckley multi-sport standout Connor Mollohan gave an even deeper look at what his longtime teammate brings to the table each night.
“Ari is one of my best friends,” Mollohan said. “I have played against him and I have played on the same team as him. I have basically spent my whole baseball career with him. There is nobody more deserving than him.”
“He is one of the hardest workers I have ever met and one of the greatest people I have ever met,” Mollohan went on to say. “He has an unbelievable work ethic. He is really good on the mound and keeps his composure. Not only can he locate pitches, he is just an all around good teammate. He is ready for the next level.”
Choosing Bluefield University was not a difficult one for Payne.
“It is not a huge school. It is more similar to your average high school, so it is pretty easy to get to know everybody around there,” Payne said. “(Pitching) coach (Garrett) Schilling made me feel right at home. He instantly made me feel really good about the program and I enjoyed my visit and the facilities. I thought it was a good choice for me.”
Payne will also have a good friend on the team in former Independence hurler Tanner Sipes.
“It did help having him there. Anybody going to college and not knowing anyone on campus would be nervous,” Payne said. “Having him there definitely helped my decision. It didn’t determine my decision, but it did help. He told me about the program and the stuff that they do and I was very intrigued by it.”
While Payne is slated to be on the mound when he heads to Bluefield, McKinney feels his best attribute is his ability to play all over the diamond.
“They will get him down there and put him in the weight room. They will slim him down a little bit and he can really help (Bluefield),” McKinney said. “He is a multi-position player. He is a heck of a left fielder and he can come in and play the infield.”
Payne is also realistic about the keys to success at the next level and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
“It is big adjustment and it will take up a lot of my free time, but it will also be worth it,” Payne said. “I think after about a year or so, I will be able to develop really well and be a lot better than I am now.”
