Four recent baseball signees to Bluefield College know each other very well. John Tuck, Alex Perkins, Nick Meadows and Alex Hylton have been playing baseball with each other since grade school, and for the past four years, they have been members of the Christiansburg High School team.
Wednesday, they made it official that they would continue their collegiate baseball career together at Bluefield College.
Meadows is a three times Gold Glove winner at second base and was second team all-conference last year. Last season, he had a batting average of .387 and only made two errors at shortstop. He also was 2-0 on the mound.
Perkins was first team all-conference as a junior for the utility position and was all-region honorable mention. He has been an asset for this year’s squad on the mound, starting three games so far.
Tuck, who has fighting a nagging injury from basketball, was an all-conference pitcher last season and honorable mention as a catcher.
Hylton is one of those utility players that can play almost any position and as a ninth graders was the team’s offensive most valuable player.
Meadows said Bluefield felt like home during several visits to the campus. His father, Tom, also played baseball at the school. I knew it was the place for me the first time I was on campus.”
Tuck said he similar feelings about the school. I was looking for a smaller school with a good baseball program that was close to home,” he said.
The “Fab Four” never expected each other would take this path, but they are thankful for the opportunity.
“I’ve played ball with the same group of guys since I was little, and we’ve all been close ever since on and off the field,” Perkins said.
Meadows feels playing at CHS with the others has taught him many things. “Aside from the game, I’ve learned how to be not only a good teammate, but a good friend. The relationships I have with my teammates and coaches will be with me forever. I would not be the player or person I am today without them,” he said.
Drew Bailey, who is a Christiansburg High School alum and an assistant coach at Bluefield, is excited about the addition of these four players.
“I think four are good kids and are strong academically. They have good character, and in so many ways, I have watched them grow up. All four bring something different to the table,” he said.
The Bluefield coach believes Tuck and Perkins could play roles right away on the mound, and expects Meadows to play almost anywhere on the diamond.
“Hylton is relentless and a hard worker. He does all the right things,” Bailey said.
Perkins said he chose Bluefield because of the relationship with Bailey. “He just made it feel like home. I believe Bluefield is a good place for me grow and to improve my baseball skills so that I may take my sports to another level past college. Bowen Field, Bluefield’s home turf, is an amazing park and I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of their team,” he said.
Bluefield is a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) and was picked to finish eighth in this year’s baseball preseason poll. The team is currently 20-11 and will 10 seniors from this year’s squad. In addition, Bluefield will also field a jayvee baseball team starting next season.
Meadows plans to major in Criminal Justice and minor in Forensic Science with the goal of becoming a police detective. Tuck also hopes to major in criminal justice and hopes to become a member of the U.S. Marshal’s Service, while Hylton joins the duo with the same major with plans of becoming a police officer after graduation. Perkins plans to major in sports management.
