Will Simmons is ACC bound, but he’s a Harrisburg Tiger first
HARRISBURG, S.D. (BVM) — It did not take a long time for Will Simmons to make his decision on where he would go to continue his baseball career after high school. The Harrisburg High School junior did not hesitate when a program from one of his dream conferences began calling.
“My dream was to always play big time baseball whether that was ACC or SEC,” Simmons said. “I wanted to play somewhere in the south.”
In his mind and the minds of many others, the ACC and the SEC is where the best collegiate baseball is played. Four out of the last six national champions have come from the two conferences and this season 12 of the top 25 teams in the nation are from the SEC and ACC.
However, it wasn’t just the level of play that drew Simmons to the south. It was the dedicated fan bases as well. Watching college baseball games and seeing the packed stadiums full of cheering fans is exactly what Simmons wants to play in front of.
That is why when the University of North Carolina began recruiting the right-handed pitcher. Within weeks, Simmons was hooked on the thought of being a Tar Heel.
“It happened very fast,” Simmons said. “As soon as the first call with Coach Gaines, the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, I kind of fell in love. … I think two weeks later I committed.”
I’m excited to announce my commitment to the University of North Carolina. I’d like to thank my family, coaches, teammates and everyone else who has helped along the way. Blessed to be a Tar Heel! @HBA57032 @EliteSportsAdv @BRCJustin @PBRMinnesota @krisregas pic.twitter.com/rY1z0KIRVg
— Will Simmons (@willsimmons25) October 24, 2020
It wasn’t just his collegiate decision that came fast, Simmons also caught the attention of colleges quickly. Last year as a sophomore, he went to a showcase that was hosted in Sioux Falls. He showed off his pitching talents at the event, throwing 88 mph fastballs with impressive accuracy. Later that same year, he went to a Minnesota Gophers event and the Gophers offered him a scholarship shortly after.
“My name kind of got out there,” Simmons said. “I knew it was going to take off from there.”
Simmons was right, and by the time he was talking to Coach Gaines and UNC, he had received other offers from schools like Xavier and Hawaii as well as interest from many others.
His rise to the top of the South Dakota high school baseball scene may have been quick, but it was well deserved. Simmons had always loved baseball since the moment he began playing it as an 8 or 9-year-old, but it was during his freshman year that he realized his love for the game could take him places.
“I think around freshman year I was throwing harder than most guys,” Simmons said. “I didn’t know how high I could get at the collegiate level. I knew I could probably get a chance at it but it was always a dream for me and I worked hard for it.”
The young pitcher made the decision to stop playing football and focus solely on his baseball career. He trained every day in pursuit of achieving his dream, which only increased his infatuation with the sport.
“That’s why I fell in love with baseball, I love training for it,” Simmons said. “I love the training that goes along with it.”
That desire to do the work and do it correctly has become second nature to the Tiger pitcher. Even after pitching a no-hitter and tying a team record with 18 strikeouts on April 20, Simmons’ focus was on doing his recovery workouts.
Simmons’ dedication to his craft along with talented coaching and the support of his teammates had made the righthander a nightmare for batters. The velocity of his fastball is one thing, but the command he has over the pitch is what sets him apart.
“I take a lot of pride in locating my fastball,” Simmons said.
His fastball and slider combination has led to many double-digit strikeout starts for the Harrisburg Tigers. However, Simmons will be the first to tell you that those stats don’t matter to him. A true team player, he is only focused on the outcome of the game.
“The end goal is to get as many outs as I can,” Simmons said.
The junior is very good at accomplishing that goal. It’s why the Tar Heels recruited him and why he is one of the best pitchers in South Dakota. Even so, Simmons will not put on the Carolina Blue for almost two years. For now, he is dedicated to getting outs for the Tigers.
“I’ve definitely dreamed about it and I can’t wait for that feeling, but at the end of the day, I’m still a Harrisburg Tiger right now,” Simmons said. “I try to focus on that right now.”
