SYLACAUGA - Working hard on and off the field has opened many doors for Sylacauga’s David Ellison. On Wednesday afternoon, Ellison signed a AA Lipscomb Academic Merritt scholarship and committed to play baseball for Huntingdon College in the school’s library.

“Being able to play baseball at the next level no matter what level is a honor,” Ellison said. “Being able to get an education like Huntingdon is a good opportunity for me.”

The small class sizes and the opportunity to see playing time right way was a plus.”

“Huntingdon pursued me the most,” Ellison said. “Coach Convill said I could pitch and I could start moving to first base to see how that goes. The small classes that Huntingdon has it felt like a small Sylacauga. That is pretty much what it was.”

Over the past couple of years, the Aggies have had quite a few student-athletes attend Huntingdon. Ellison said having familiar faces there also is a positive.

“I have Brantley Carr, who is playing football and Jeremy Murphy also plays football,” Ellison said. “Carly Garner is a majorette down there, so it is like a whole Sylacauga family going there.”

Ellison’s plan for the future has more than just baseball in it.

“I want to become a pharmacist,” Ellison said. “I am going to major is biology or chemistry. Then, I plan to get my pre pharmacy at Auburn.”

Ellison said his strong work ethic is one of the many things that Huntingdon can expect.

“I am not one that just goes to college and just lounges around and not go to class,” Ellison said.

“I keep my grades and when I step in between lines I am giving 100 percent no matter where I am. I am a hard worker that keeps my grades up and I like to play baseball.”

Sylacauga head coach Michael Gibbs is elated for the 6-foot-3 inch pitcher/first baseman.

“Anytime that you have a kid in your program that is able to go to the next level it is thrilling for everybody and good for your program,” Gibbs said.

“David is a special case in the sense that he is a good student. Academics have played a big part in his signing was his academic history here at the school being so strong he is going to have the best of both worlds pretty much. He is going to have his academic needs met with a scholarship. He is going to wind up getting a real good education and he is going to get to play baseball, because that is what he enjoys doing. It is a great situation for him.”

Gibbs said Ellison put up numbers over his career that puts in him in the group with some of best players to come through Sylacauga.

“We are very proud of him because he has done a good job for us for four years,” Gibbs said.

“He has been in the line up as a pitcher for four years. Statistically speaking over the four years, he ranks up there in ERA and strikeouts with some of the best we ever had. It is very good to see him excel as a baseball player and what he has done for us over. Realistically speaking this is a great opportunity for him to get a good education and play baseball for fun. That is the way it should be. Sometimes we get caught up thinking baseball, baseball, baseball is the most important thing, but education is the most important thing. He is going to have the best of both worlds at Huntingdon. ”

Contact LaVonte Young at lyoung@dailyhome.com or Follow him on Twitter @LYoung_DHSports.