Hidden Valley Titan shortstop Cam Hodge won’t have to ponder his college choice any longer when he takes his place at shortstop, as a senior this spring. Hodge has signed on the dotted line with Radford University, where he will team up once again with former infield partner Brent Mollenauer.
“I am extremely excited,” said Hodge, who overcame a broken arm suffered while a freshman. He played 45 games in 38 days last summer at showcase camps, a ritual that many high school players endure as they look to college for baseball. Hodge also visited Radford, was impressed, and was ultimately awarded a scholarship.
“They were the best fit,” said Hodge.
His mother Penny is the budget director for Roanoke County Schools while his father Craig is a teacher at William Byrd Middle. Titan head coach Jason Taylor said the partial scholarship Hodge earned demonstrated “how much Cam has worked hard, where he’s gotten to the point that a [Division One] school …showed an interest.”
A coach’s clinic in January gave Taylor a chance to talk about Hodge and the Highlander coaches also saw him play in the summer showcases.
Hodge is the sixth Titan that has been offered scholarship money; Taylor has had eleven players in all go on to compete in college.
“He’s worked awfully hard for several years and certainly over the summer,” said Craig Hodge at a signing ceremony last week, noting that his son “grew up with a bat and [baseball] glove in his hands.”
Cam Hodge has the right stuff, according to Coach Taylor. “Fundamentally he’s great defensively; he catches everything and makes plays. [He has] real quick feet.” Hodge broke the Hidden Valley single season record for stolen bases last year; his coach sees him in the leadoff spot at Radford.
Titans players are already getting in shape for next season. Hidden Valley made it to the regional semifinals last spring and has been in the state final-four twice before under Taylor.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]