Fort’s Wright will commit to Radford

FORT DEFIANCE — Fort Defiance’s Daniel Wright verbally committed to play baseball for Radford University, a Division I school in the Big South Conference.

Wright has been a pitcher and catcher for the Indians since his arrival as a freshman, but will likely catch for the Highlanders.

The native from Weyers Cave always dreamed of playing baseball — now he’s another step closer.

“When I was younger, I went to a [Pittsburgh] Pirates game, and ever since then, I wanted to play baseball,” Wright said. “Right after that, I signed up for tee ball.”

According to Indians coach Vic Spotts, Wright didn’t know that colleges were interested in him.

“He’s a very unassuming and a very humble individual,” Spotts said. “He was very hard on himself about his performance”

Then the phone rang at Spotts home shortly after the Commonwealth Games.

“I get a call and it was from coach Berry Davis from Ryder University in N.J.,” Spotts said. “Davis said he liked that Wright kid,” Spotts said. 

But Radford was a perfect fit for the senior.

“I never would have thought I would play for a Division I team,” Wright said. “But when I went to visit the campus at Radford I just loved the people and the coaches there.”

Another draw to the Highlanders was the competition.

“To play against teams in the Big South is very exciting,” Wright said. “We’ll play teams like Liberty University and Coastal Carolina, it’s going to be very competitive.

“I think I’m gonna miss playing football, but baseball has always been my dream.”.

Spotts, along with volunteer coach Rick Reeves, have traveled along with Wright on his journey.

“I knew when I saw him play in the eighth grade that this kid had something,” Spotts said.  “He pitched and caught for us. He was lettered in the ninth grade. He can throw about 80 miles-per-hour, but recruiters like to see pitches in the 90s.”

Spotts split Wright between the mound and behind the plate to save his arm. Sometimes he was used as the Indians’ designated hitter.

“Daniel is a bulldog,” Spotts said. “He’s a very intelligent player and is a very intense player when it comes to competition.  Sometimes we would have to lock the weight room on him.”

When he first joined the Indians, Wright struggled.

“I didn’t have a great year during my freshmen year,” Wright said. “From then on, it has been great. The coaches have been great and the guys I’ve played with have been great.”

Wright will be on a partial baseball scholarship at Radford.

“I can’t express enough how excited I am,” Wright said. “They [Radford] were my first offer. I didn’t expect that quite honestly.”