VHS baseball player Earl Daniels signs his letter of intent, with his parents, Louis and Elvira, at his side as head baseball coach Bart Shuman, from left, VHS principal Brett Stanton, coaches Justin Henderson, Matt Herring, Mark Kirksey and Adam Haire look on.

Daniels signs with UGA

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: December 21, 2007 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Thousands of kids growing up in Georgia would love to become a Georgia Bulldog one day. Earl Daniels will realize that dream next year.

Daniels, Valdosta High’s standout shortstop and pitcher, has signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Georgia. In 2009, he will wear the red-and-black uniform of the Bulldogs.

“I’m really excited. I can’t wait to be a Bulldog,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play college baseball, and this is a dream come true for me.” Georgia head coach David Perno is pleased to add Daniels to his roster. “Earl is a very talented infielder who has the ability to play third base, shortstop and second base,” Perno said. “He has great actions, great hands and a solid arm. He is becoming more physical, and that will help him offensively. However, he has the ability to play defense as a freshman.” Daniels has been starting for Valdosta since his sophomore year, and has developed into one of the team’s most valuable players.

“Earl is a great player,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “He is as good an infielder as we’ve had here. He’s also a great person, he’s an honor student, he’s got a great work ethic. He’s very dedicated to the game. He’s an easy player to coach.”

Georgia has made two College World Series appearances this decade, and Daniels hopes he can help the Bulldogs make it back to Omaha in the near future.

Last season, Georgia went a disappointing 23-33, including 11-19 in the Southeastern Conference. Perno has responded by signing one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, with players he feels can help the Bulldogs return to the SEC’s elite.

“This is an outstanding class that covers all the bases,” Perno said. “We’ve got a group of baseball guys who are good students, hard-working and very competitive, and most importantly, great people.”

But before he leaves for Athens, Daniels still has some unfinished business at Valdosta.

“This is my last season at Valdosta, and I want to help us go far in the playoffs,” he said. “I think we’ll have a good team this year, with the players we have coming back. Having six seniors helps a lot.”

Last season, Daniels batted cleanup for the Wildcats and was one of the team’s leaders in RBIs and extra base hits. He also was the team’s top pitcher, going 5-5 with a 2.14 ERA. Most of those losses came in low-scoring pitcher’s duels. Those accomplishments earned him a spot on the All-Region first team.

“That was a pretty big deal,” Daniels said. “I made it as a pitcher. I’m trying to get better at hitting, too, so I’m good enough to make it as a hitter or a pitcher.”

“Earl’s an excellent infielder and pitcher,” Shuman said. “Georgia signed him as an infielder, but I feel there’s still a lot left in his pitching career.”

Daniels likes playing the infield and pitching, something he’s been doing since he was nine years old.

“I like pitching and hitting,” Daniels said. “I can control the game as a pitcher, and I can make a difference as a hitter.”

Ironically, it was Foley Field, Georgia’s ballpark, where the Bulldogs spotted Daniels, who was playing in a tournament there with his travel ball team, the Atlanta Blue Jays. He spent last summer living with his sister in Atlanta and playing for the Blue Jays.

“We played two games in Athens, and I did great both games,” Daniels said. “They saw me and started talking to me. Later they offered me a scholarship.”

Being a Georgia signee makes him determined to prove he deserves it. “I have something to live up to. I have to prove myself,” he said. Daniels is one of several good athletes in his extended family. His brother Conrad played wide receiver at Georgia Tech. He also had a brother play high school basketball. His cousins, Josh and Jacob Gervacio, started on Open Bible’s state championship baseball and soccer teams last year. Daniels himself played football and basketball earlier in his career at Valdosta, but gave them up to concentrate on baseball.

“I like football and basketball, but I had to make a decision, and I decided to concentrate on baseball, so that I could get better at it,” Daniels said. “I feel like I made the right decision.”

Daniels is the second player from the Valdosta area to sign with the Bulldogs this fall. Lowndes catcher Christian Glisson is also heading to Athens next year.