Brody Hensel
Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Another area baseball standout is headed to Concord University to play baseball.
Auburn’s Brody Hensel announced this past week he was committed to joining Concord next fall.
Hensel has been a part of two state championships at Auburn and will join teammate, Matthew Altizer who announced earlier this month he would also attend Concord and play baseball.
Concord is coached by Christiansburg alum Drew Bailey, who has fed off recruiting several players from the New River Valley over the past five years.
“I chose Concord because after talking with Coach Bailey, I knew he was the type of coach who could help me develop into the player I want to become,” Hensel said. “Another big factor was the opportunity to play alongside my former teammate Jared Lavergne and my current teammate Matthew Altizer.”
Last season at Auburn, Hensel battled through an arm injury that sidelined him for part of the year, but I was still able to finish with a good year where he hit .474 with an .895 slugging percentage, recording 27 hits, five triples, two home runs, 17 walks, and only two strikeouts on the season.
He expects to see time at both first base and in the outfield for Concord.
Concord, the Athens, West Virginia Division II school, has become home to several local players over the past few years.
The team’s roster includes former Christiansburg players, Dawson Gragg, JT Thompson and Connor Brizendine.
Hensel said his hope is to continue growing not only as a player, but also as a young man. “Most importantly, I want to use this next chapter to strengthen my faith and testimony in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to glorify Him through the game I love,” he said. “I’m very excited to join so many familiar faces at Concord. Getting to play again with teammates like Jared Lavergne, Rocco Fizano, and Gavin Dow will bring back the same joy I felt as a kid, just playing the game I love with friends.”
Academically, Hensel plans to pursue a degree in either business or child education.
