DEEP RUN — Grant Tyndall had many options, but in the end he chose Mount Olive.
Tyndall, a five-tool baseball player at South Lenoir, has signed his national letter of intent to play for the Trojans next year following an exhausting recruiting process.
First, there was the commitment to N.C. State Tyndall made as a junior after the Wolfpack offered the outfielder a spot as a walk-on. Then there was the interest from other top-notch Division I programs such as ECU and UNC-Wilmington.
But in the end, Tyndall’s heart lied with Mount Olive.
“It feels good to know finally where I’m going to school,” he said. “I feel comfortable there. … I feel like they can develop me there.
“I’ve always liked Mount Olive. … It was a hard recruiting process, but it’s always going to be hard in recruiting. Once I finally decided on Mount Olive it was like a relief.”
Tyndall hit .362 this year and drove in 12 runs, and was a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen bases. He’s also solid with the glove, making him a solid candidate for recruiting.
Last summer N.C. State offered Tyndall a spot as a walk-on and, without hesitation, he accepted. But then he realized he’d jumped the gun, and when more options began pouring in he decommitted.
He said Mount Olive, and its success as a Division II program — it’s currently the top-ranked team in the country — stood out above the rest.
The school also offers his planned degree in agricultural business.
“I’m ready to play. I like playing with better competition. Against better competition you get better,” he said. “They’re D-II but they’re No. 1 in the nation. That says it all right there.”
First-year Blue Devils coach David Combs has enjoyed having Tyndall and his leadership this season.
“He’s been a work horse for us. He’s our leader and he made things happen,” said Combs, a former pitcher for the Trojans. “He’ll do well at Mount Olive.”
Tyndall is hoping to step in and play right away, but he also knows there are a half-dozen other outfielders on the roster that will also be fighting for playing time.
“I feel like if I put in the work then that’s all I can do,” Tyndall said. “Maybe they’ll give me the opportunity (to play), and that’s all I need is a chance. That’s all I want. I’m going to work hard.”
In the end, Tyndall is hoping to work as hard at Mount Olive as he did at South Lenoir, if not harder, and eventually play pro ball.
“I want to play all four years and get my degree,” he said, “and hopefully get drafted.”
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.