“He’s worked really hard to get where he is,” Demopolis High baseball coach James Moody said Thursday of his starting right fielder, G.W. Washington. Where Washington is, as of Thursday, is officially the next level.

With his coach and mother looking on, Washington signed a scholarship offer from Central Alabama Community College Thursday morning. The scholarship is a late-in-coming cap to a great 2004 season, in which Washington batted .352, drove in 28 RBIs, and stole 6 bases. His 9 doubles and pair of triples helped put him among the team leaders in total bases.

“We’re ecstatic to have him,” said CACC athletic director and head baseball coach Don Ingram. “What we look for are recruits that are projected to succeed not only at our level, but that next level up. And G.W. is one.”

“Obviously we’re very proud when any of our kids gets a scholarship,” said coach Moody. “It furthers their academics as well as being a big plus for their athletics.”

The program Washington enters at CACC, which is located in Alexander City, is one of the strongest in the Southeast. The Trojans competed at the JUCO World Series as recently as 2001, and have sent players on to several prominent schools, including Auburn University.

“We’re expecting big things from him this year,” said Moody. “He’ll pitch more this season than he has. He’s easy to coach, always listens to what we tell him like all our kids…they make our job as coaches a lot easier.”

Assuming Washington lives up to his potential, he’ll make Ingram’s job easier in the next few years as well. “We look at 700 to 800 recruits, and we’re very fortunate when we find one who projects to move on, who expects to move on,” said Ingram. “It’s hard to recruit a winner. And G.W. is that.”