Senior third baseman and pitcher Ethan Neal signed his letter Monday to commit to Capital University in Ohio to continue his education and baseball career.

Neal was one of GRC’s leading hitters last season and tallied five homeruns.

Although Neal is excited for his new chapter, he is ready to get back on the diamond for his senior season.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “We have a lot of talent and seniors. We’re all excited to get the season started.”

Neal said he’s had to put an endless amount of work to achieve his dream of playing college baseball.

“It’s been a lot of hard work,” he said. “It’s a lot of tournaments and practices that have been accumulated over the years. There’s been a lot of lessons too. It’s been a lot of hard work.”

Neal said he’s most excited for the relationships he is going to build with his new team.

“I’m ready for the brotherhood,” he said. “I’m excited to meet my lifelong friends and I’m ready for the college baseball grind. Playing 50 games a year and practicing every day.”

Neal said for him to call his senior season successful, he wants to do everything he can to make sure his team wins.

“I have to do what I have to do for us to win,” he said. “We have to be consistent and I want to be a good teammate. We have to get some wins under our belt and a district championship is our main goal.”

Neal admits he’s most nervous for his last game wearing a GRC uniform.

“I’m nervous for the last time I walk off the GRC baseball field,” he said. “It’s going to be hard. I’ve been grinding there for the last five years. It’s going to be bittersweet walking off it one last time.”

Neal said none of his dreams would be possible if he didn’t put his work in the classroom first.

“I’ve had to put a lot of work into school,” he said. “It started freshman year where I had to get all my grades where they needed to be. I had to work hard to get this scholarship. I couldn’t be happier with my grades.”

Neal said as long as he makes an impact on the team, he will consider it to be a successful freshman season.

“I just want to contribute,” he said. “I’m not really worried about playing time. I’m going to pay my dues and get the respect from the older guys. Whenever my name gets called, I’m going to do what I have to do.”