BASEBALL: MC’s Williams commits to ACU

By Christopher Hadorn
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Midland College second baseman Garrett Williams is adding to the Chaps' impressive list of players moving onto four-year colleges.

Williams announced on Twitter last Friday that he has committed to play baseball at Division I Abilene Christian University, which finished the 2022 season with a 30-29 record and fell one game short of qualifying for an NCAA regional.

Williams hit .419 with two home runs, 20 doubles, eight triples, 49 RBI, 14 steals, a .473 on-base percentage and a .608 slugging percentage in 222 at-bats for MC this past season.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Grand Prairie native was such a good hitter that he struck out only 13 times compared to 21 walks.

Williams joins a group of Chap players going to four-year programs which include infielder Tyler Wulfert and pitcher Luke Young (Oklahoma State), outfielder Luke Bumpus (TCU), pitcher/outfielder Jarek Wells (Houston Baptist University), catcher Ryan Blackwell (Oral Roberts University), pitcher Luis Rodriguez (Incarnate Word) and infielder Caleb Heuertz (Angelo State).

Garrett Williams

Williams chose ACU over a preferred walk on opportunity at Florida State and offers from Northwestern State and Angelo State.

"I just loved that the coaches have a plan for the future," Williams said. "They want to win championships. I really enjoyed getting to talk with them. They're really good guys and I like the vision that they have. The facilities are awesome. It's pretty much all you can ask for in a place to play. It's a mid-major school, but I think they have a good vision and I think they're going to have great success here in the future."

Williams said ACU showed interest during the Chaps' season in the spring, but he decided to be patient and not hurry his commitment.

"They got me out on a visit," Williams said. "It took a little bit for me because I wanted to be able to think with a clear head, just be 100% sure and be done with our season before I made that decision. I talked to my family and that's what we wanted to do."

"I knew my time would come," Williams added. "I know there's a plan for me. It may have taken a little bit, but I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity that I have."

Williams is now suiting up for the Mankato (Minnesota) MoonDogs of the Northwoods League, one of the premier collegiate wood bat summer circuits in the country.

Williams said he was able to land his spot with the help of Young and Huertez, who were 2021 Northwoods League veterans.

Williams says the Mankato roster spot is temporary and he is trying to earn a full-time gig with his play.

"He has always been a Division I player," Chaps head coach Hector Rodriguez said of Williams. "But statistically, he's arguably the best hitter in the state of Texas when you line up all the junior college stats, all the Division I stats with the leaders. He's arguably the best hitter in the state of Texas, so it's no surprise that he's a Division I player. To be honest with you, I wish he would have found a home a little sooner, but things happen for a reason, and I think Abilene Christian is going to get a heck of a player and a heck of a kid."

Williams was an all-conference honorable mention selection for a Chaps team that came up a game short of the JUCO World Series with a 40-20 mark.

"I'm incredibly thankful for my two years at Midland," Williams said. "I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was a great experience, and I wouldn't be where I am today without those two years. Coach Rod and Coach (Nolan) Fanning did an excellent job. They helped me out a ton and it was just awesome getting to play alongside those guys that I got to play with for the past two years."

Follow Chris on Twitter: @chris_MRTsports