By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — Baseball is ingrained in Eli Spruill’s life. The Plymouth slugger has been getting hits ever since he was old enough to say the word.
Spruill’s dedication to the game, along with his 6-2, 180-pound frame has produced massive results for the four-year varsity letter winner.
Last year Spruill was named the Washington Daily News Player of the Year as a junior, and this year after batting .575 with five home runs against tough competition in a strong Four Rivers Conference, the Vikings’ slugger has done it again.
Plymouth coach Terry Perry said that Spruill has put in a lot of work to get to where he is now and that all that hard work has paid off.
“As a freshman he was like a lot of other freshman: kind of lost. It was a big step coming to high school,” Perry said. “But he worked hard and got some playing time here and there. He just kept working and getting better and by the time he was a junior he was as good as anybody around.”
Spruill, who bats lefty and throws righty, earned the honor batting between the No. 3 spot and the leadoff spot while leading his team to a 16-8 record and a first-round playoff win in the NCHSAA 1-A tournament.
In that playoff win, Spruill took the mound and pitched a one-hit gem to lead the Vikings to a 4-0 win over Jamesville.
“He was the cornerstone of the team,” Perry said. “He was a guy who we could rely on, on the hill. He was a guy who you would love to see come to the plate in key situations. He’s just a tough out. He’s gives you solid shortstop play and he’s got a strong arm.”
Spruill is a very complete ball player, and it’s not by accident. The Vikings’ star has spent a lot of time working on his game.
“He’s so successful because he works hard,” Perry said. “He enjoys playing the game, he respects the game. He took the ups with the downs here at Plymouth high school and when things hit bottom he came out digging; he wasn’t ready to leave. That’s the thing I respect most about Eli and all these kids that play here.”
Spruill’s instincts, both physical and mental, have made him the ultimate weapon on the field and in the batter’s box.
“His strength and knowledge of the game have improved so much,” Perry said. “Just being able to react to situations without even having to think about it has helped him a lot.”
Spruill, who pitches and plays shortstop, went 9-2 on the hill last season, but spent more time in the field this year to prepare for next season where he will be more of a position player at South Eastern Community College.
Spruill has a great eye and is very versatile, plus he is willing to do what’s best for the team. When hitters find their grove in a specific spot in the lineup, they don’t always react well to moving. However, Spruill continued to mash wherever he was penciled in.
“We just wanted to get him more at-bats,” Plymouth coach Terry Perry said. “It seemed like we were losing a couple of close games. It seemed like we just never had that guy at the plate. So we moved him up and it paid off for us, it won us some games.”
Spruill said he had no problem with the switch, and actually preferred it.
“I think I liked being he leadoff guy a little better, that way I can hit my pitch,” Spruill said. “I guess it doesn’t really matter for me. If I’m up and see a first-pitch fastball I’m going to hit it.”
Spruill’s versatility and natural ability should help his success carry over at the next level. While he’s not sure where he will hit at SECC next season, you can be sure he will get plenty of hits no matter where he bats.