(L-R) Cody Alling, Victor Cole and Ryne Willard with head baseball coach Mike McLeod

Posted: May 01, 2014

Signing Day Rewind: Baseball Trio Inks Scholarships

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 1, 2014) – Two weeks ago, seven of Tallahassee Community College's basketball players announced where they will continue their education and athletic career. Prior to that, however, three members of the Eagles' baseball team enjoyed the spotlight.

Pitchers Cody Alling and Victor Cole and shortstop Ryne Willard each signed NCAA letters of intent with a four-year school – the first signees from the current class of nine sophomores on the Eagles' 2014 roster.

Alling, a native of Pensacola, Fla., will return to his hometown and play for the University of West Florida. The southpaw is 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA in 12 appearances this season after posting a 2-1 record and 2.70 ERA in 11 games in 2013.

Before joining the Eagles, Alling starred at prep power Catholic High School.

"He's a proven winner," said West Florida assistant head coach Shane Gierke. "We're fortunate to have any Catholic High guys as a part of our program. Those guys are used to winning. Cody is a nice left-handed arm that has a very good breaking ball. He's definitely the piece that we were looking for as a left-handed arm this year."

West Florida, an NCAA Division II program, competes in the Gulf South Conference.

Cole, a native of Cordova, Tenn., signed with Liberty University.

The lefty transitioned into the Eagles' starting rotation in 2014 after being named Panhandle Conference Fireman of the Year as a freshman when he was 5-0 with eight saves. This season, he is 6-2 with a 2.24 ERA in 12 appearances. He picked up the win in relief against Gulf Coast State College in the Eagles' regular season finale, a victory that sent Tallahassee on to the FCSAA Wild Card round and an eventual berth in the FCSAA Tournament.

Liberty, an NCAA Division I program, is located in Lynchburg, Va., and competes in the Big South Conference. The Flames are currently ranked in all three major college baseball polls, including a No. 22 ranking in Baseball America's Top 25.

Willard, meanwhile, signed with the ACC's North Carolina State Wolfpack, who play their home games in Raleigh, N.C.

A native of Smithsburg, Md., Willard transferred to Tallahassee after playing his freshman season at Towson University in 2012. When it appeared Towson's baseball program was going to be dropped following the 2012 season, Willard opted to redshirt the 2013 season, which eventually paved the way for him to join the Eagles.

In 53 games at shortstop in 2014, he has batted .290 with seven home runs and 44 RBI.