Roane State Community College

Jan. 18, 2017

Jake Sims has a great reason to exclaim the University of Alabama’s rallying cry, “Roll Tide!”

Sims, a Roane State sophomore who plays catcher and first base for the Raiders’ baseball team, has signed to play for Alabama after this spring’s season with the Roane State Raiders.

That recent commitment to Alabama is a great opportunity for Jake, Raiders Baseball Coach Zach Sterner says, unless Sims is drafted by a professional baseball team and he goes that route instead.

Sterner said “it’s been more than a few years” since a Roane State baseball player has inked an agreement with an SEC team.

“He’s a great kid and a hard worker,” Sterner said of Sims, who hails from Ontario, Canada. “He obviously has bought into the process, and has been very successful as of now.”

 “When the time came, he performed really well in front of those scouts,” Sterner said of Sims’ results in front of Division I universities.

Sims was recruited for the Raiders, which compiled a 22-23 season last spring. As a freshman, the left-handed hitter had a .354 batting average during the last season, including seven home runs. “He is very close to the top of the conference in catching,” Sterner said.

In addition to Sims, the following Roane State athletes have signed with four-year schools.

• Sophomore shortstop Tyler Culpepper has committed to Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. “He started every game and batted .290 in the conference,” Sterner said of Culpepper’s season last spring. “He works his tail off and is very good defensively.”
• First baseman Hunter Hodges has committed to Milligan College. “He was a big part of last year’s line-up and we are looking for great things this year as well,” Sterner said. “He is a blue collar baseball player that does everything the right way.”
• Sophomore centerfielder Natalie Schilling has signed to play softball for Austin Peay State University. The lefty slapper started every game last season and batted .320 with 29 stolen bases 10 RBIs. “Natalie is a huge vocal leader for our team, and will continue to be that leader in years to come,” coach Jessica Hackworth said. Schilling  is also an excellent student who has a 3.9 GPA.