A second member of the 2015 Hoquiam High School baseball state 1A championship team will play baseball collegiately next fall.

Senior infielder/utility player Zach Spradlin, who will finish third overall in his class academically when he graduates in June, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Division II St. Martin’s University in Lacey.

“I think it is a good fit for me, educationally and baseball-wise,” Spradlin said last week. “I’ve always wanted to play baseball in college. It has been my goal, since I was little, to play college baseball. And to achieve that, that is really satisfying. Educationally, it is a great school, so that is a bonus.”

Spradlin is a three-year starter for the Grizzlies, including the 2015 state 1A championship team and the 2016 state 1A runners-up, and is the second HHS player from those teams to sign to play college baseball.

Senior pitcher Skyler Jump signed last year to play Division I baseball at Liberty University at Lynchburg, Virginia. Jump is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm last November.

Spradlin is a multiple all-Evergreen 1A League selection, earning second-team honors as a catcher and a first-team infielder as a sophomore and a junior, respectively. He also played on the Grays Harbor Giants, an American Legion Triple A division baseball team last year.

“The first time (St. Martin’s coaches) saw me, it was my sophomore year at state,” Spradlin added. “They met me there and kept in touch. I saw them during the Legion season and they came down for games here last season.”

“Zach is fulfilling a childhood dream and he’s always had the ambition to be a college baseball player,” Hoquiam head baseball coach Steve Jump said. “Also, he’s academically sound and will be a great college student-athlete. Zach and St. Martin’s is going to be a great fit.”

In the classroom, Spradlin noted he will be studying business administration and will be comfortable there. At Hoquiam, his 3.95 GPA places him third overall in his class and allowed him to receive a large academic scholarship that will cover the vast majority of his tuition at the private university.

“I won’t have to pay a lot; keeping up with all of my high school stuff definitely helped me out,” he added.

On the field, Spradlin had played multiple positions at Hoquiam and he’s open to playing anywhere the team needs him to play.

“When I worked out for them, I was at second base, shortstop and outfield,” he said. “I’m going to look and see where they are short and I’ll go there. I can play anywhere.”

”Like every kid stepping into a new program, he’ll have to prove himself,” Jump added. “However, he’s a great communicator, has a savvy for the game and is a utility-type of player who can fill in many spots on the team. We’re going to miss him, but we’re thrilled he will be continuing his baseball career.”

Spradlin said that he received some interest and a few offers from community colleges in Western Washington, but was locked in with St. Martin’s when they expressed interest.

The Saints compete in the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference and is currently fifth in the GNAC standings this season with a 11-20 record, 14-25 overall.