Sometimes life deals you a bad hand.
The question then becomes, how will you deal with the misfortunes that have come your way?
Greater Beckley Christian standout Elijah Grubb chose perseverance to handle one of life’s biggest misfortunes.
After losing his dad to a COVID related illness prior to his junior season, Grubb stayed the course and in doing so, reaped the biggest reward of baseball career.
Saturday afternoon in front of his family, teammates and friends, Grubb signed a National Letter of Intent to play college baseball for WVU Tech.
“I can’t really describe how I feel right now. This has been my goal since I started playing baseball,” Grubb said. “I really didn’t think it would become a reality until a couple weeks ago and it just happened.”
The talent to play at the next level has always been there, but when life threw a massive curveball at Grubb, playing at the next level became a question mark.
“I never met his dad, but he was a big influence on Eli playing baseball growing up. Basically he worked to get him where he needed to be to play college baseball at some point,” Greater Beckley Christian head coach Drew Walker said. “It has been tough on him the last two years. It showed sometimes on the field with his demeanor and having some problems with that.”
Walker did not take over as head baseball coach for the Crusaders until just before Grubb’s junior season, but he was clearly the man Grubb needed to step into his life at an important time.
“When I was in high school I had a grandparent that passed away when I was 17 that was a real big influence on me, the same as Eli in his junior year,” Walker said. “We were able to talk about the difficulties and how if you don’t talk about it and handle it the right way, it can not only affect how you play a sport, it can also affect how you live your life. I think that helped him see that he could turn his frustrations and feelings into helping him play better on the field. We kind of bonded over that and it seemed to work for him a little bit.”
At the plate this year, Grubb was solid batting .416 over 28 games played. The future Golden Bear had 37 hits and 18 RBI.
“He is very talented, but I knew he would have to deal with his emotions,” Walker said. “Once he figured that out, he was really good.”
Defensively Grubb will provide Tech head coach Lawrence Nesselrodt with a versatile player that is willing to do whatever it takes to help the Golden Bears win.
“Wherever the team needs me is where I will play,” Grubb said. “I am not so comfortable in one position that I would choose it over another spot. I just love baseball and I am looking to find a position to help the team.”
Walker is of the opinion that Grubb is a big time outfielder in waiting.
“He has a really strong arm. We also found some common ground over that where I was an outfielder and a pitcher growing up,” Walker said. “I know he doesn’t love outfield, but I told him if he played outfield, he could definitely play in college. He has the arm and he reads the ball really well. He would be a strong center-fielder. If Tech needs an outfielder or a pitcher, he can really help them there.”
Grubb is now the third player from the Greater Beckley Christian senior class that will don the WVU Tech jersey next year, which he sees as a big positive going forward.
He will join Reece Patterson, Connor Miller and several other players who he has shared the diamond with over his career.
“There is a good nine or 10 guys on that team that I have known for many years of my life. I really like that. Being able to go hang out with my friends before and after games will be great,” Grubb said. “Knowing I have a throwing partner when I go to my first practice is really important. Pitching to Reece will be great. Throwing with Connor will be fun and playing with the guys that went to Shady (Spring) and Woodrow (Wilson) will be great. It will be great to be around all of those people I know and trust.”
Along with being familiar with several players on the team, Grubb also liked the fact that attending WVU Tech kept him close to home.
“I get to be around my family still and I have a lot of friends going to school there,” Grubb said. “I like the coaches. I had barely talked to coach Nesselrodt and I knew he was who I wanted to play for. He is s great guy.”
While there are still mountains to climb, Grubb has already climbed some of the biggest to reach his, and his dad’s dream of playing college baseball.
“We have come a long way with Eli and we are all very proud of him,” Greater Beckley head boys basketball coach and athletic director Justin Arvon said. “The situation he has gone through in his life, lesser people would have crumbled. He has given himself a great opportunity going forward and he has a lot to look forward to.”
