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By Jay Spivey

For the Clemmons Courier

High school athletes are being recruited earlier and earlier. 

So, Landon Church, who just started his junior year of high school at West Forsyth this past Monday, committed to N.C. State to play baseball. 

He announced his decision on X, formerly Twitter: 

“I am incredibly excited to announce my 100% commitment to play baseball for NC State University! This opportunity is a dream come true, and I am honored to join such a prestigious program. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have supported me throughout this journey. Their unwavering belief in me has been invaluable. Go Wolfpack!” 

Church, listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds on his X page, who plays center field and some infield for the Titans, just wanted to take the stress out of the next two seasons.  

“I really just felt a deep connection to the coaches (at N.C. State),” Church said. “I went to a camp there and I talked to the coaches for a little while one-on-one and just felt like it was home. The campus is really nice and I felt like I could spend the next four years of my career there.” 

Church just finished his sophomore season at West Forsyth this past May and practice for his junior season doesn’t start until February.  

“College baseball has always been a dream and I never really thought that’d I’d be able to play (NCAA) Division I baseball until about last year whenever I was told I was going to be play varsity at West. And I realized I wasn’t a little tiny kid anymore. I had a chance to be someone. 

“So, this is just a little detour. This is a step in the next process. Going to college, that’s step one. Now, on to phase two – get drafted. That’s where I’m headed now.” 

One of the things that tipped the scales for Church was that the Wolfpack went to the Men’s College World Series earlier this year in Omaha, Nebraska. 

“Obviously, I don’t want to go somewhere that’s not good, but I feel like I have a chance to play there, and they’re definitely a top team in the nation,” Church said. “So, it made the choice a little bit easier.” 

Coach Elliott Avent and his coaching staff at N.C. State recruited Church. 

“I talked to (Chris) Hart (associate head coach at N.C. State, so he’s the one that really, him and Coach (Bo) Robinson (assistant coach) are the assistant coaches,” Church said. “So, I talked to them more.” 

According to Church, other than N.C. State, Wake Forest, Texas A&M, Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee, Coastal Carolina, South Carolina and East Carolina all showed interest. 

“Obviously, baseball is baseball no matter wherever you go the goal is to play,” Church said. “At a high level, if I can get a chance to play as a freshman then I want to go there, that’s for sure. And then just connection. I’m not a kid that’s just going to somewhere and not get what I want my first year just jump into like a transfer portal or something like that. I’m in it for the long run.” 

Hart and Robinson reiterated to Church about what he brings to the table.  

“I have a lot of good assets now that can be built upon so that I can have a better career with them,” Church said. “They’re a very developmental program. And with some development I can be a top player in the nation, and I remind them a lot of Trea Turner.” 

Turner starred at N.C. State is now playing as a shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. 

“I was definitely thrilled because obviously Trea Turner’s one of the greatest players in the league now,” Church said. “So, it’s an honor to be compared him, that’s for sure.” 

According to Church, he batted .436, had 36 walks, 36 RBIs, three home runs, 18 doubles, and one triple this past season for the Titans. 

“For State, they want me to play middle infield and outfield,” he said. “But if I play in the Majors, I talked to a couple scouts and a couple agents, and I mean I run a 6.3 (seconds), 60(-yard dash).” 

Being a utility player is just fine with him. 

“I’ll play anywhere on the infield that they need me,” Church said. “I’ll find my way in the lineup any way possible. I mean, my dad’s taught me that since I started playing baseball.  

“He taught me to play center field first because that’s what he played. And I learned to play every position on the field. I can catch, I can play first base, I can pitch. I can do anything a coach needs me to, and I definitely pride myself on that.” 

Another thing Church prides himself on is his defense. 

“Definitely top in the state, I think” he said. “I project well and I know my way around the field. I have great awareness. I have pretty good baseball IQ in the positions I can play. And I think that with my competitiveness I can beat anybody out of a position if I put my mind to it, that’s for sure.” 

In addition to playing for West Forsyth, Church also plays travel ball for Wow Factor Baseball.  

“I filled in with the regional team this summer, so I played some North Carolina tournaments and some South Carolina tournaments,” Church said. “And then I went to Georgia for three weeks, and then I went to Florida once.” 

This dream for Church has come a long way. Just in the last year in a half, Church has gone from playing mostly JV baseball at West Forsyth his freshman year until late in the season when he was called up to varsity to play for Coach Brad Bullard, who resigned after that season., and is now an assistant athletic director at West Forsyth. He played his first full season of varsity baseball this past season for Coach Kevin McIntosh and has already committed to N.C. State. 

“Probably just speed,” he said of being called up to varsity his freshman year. “That’s one of my highest attributes is my speed. I’m fairly fast. So, I did run a lot of bases for the (NCHSAA Class 4-A) playoff team.” 

This past season, Church helped the Titans to an overall record of 23-7 and 11-3 in the Central Piedmont 4-A. 

“I love Coach McIntosh,” Church said. “He’s probably one of the greatest people I know, and he’s a great coach. And I definitely had a lot more leadership and a lot more responsibility this year than I did last year, that’s for sure. 

“Obviously, I was one of the top players in our program. I led the team in batting average and all that.” 

Church still has two more seasons left of high school baseball.  

“I want to improve to the best of my ability,” Church said. “I think I can never stop growing as a player, as a teammate, as a young man. So, I think my coaches can help me with that. My teammates can definitely help me with that. So, I’d like to just improve as a baseball and a young man with my attitude, my ability, get bigger, get stronger, definitely prepare myself to play at the next level and, if not, get drafted.”