By TIM TAYLORValley Sports Report
ATHENS — Corning Community College must have liked what Eli Hobday had to offer and likewise for the Athens senior, who signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play baseball for the Red Barons.
“It was the first team to reach out to me,” he said. “Coach (Charlie) Havens helped me out and coach (Dakota) Skinner was definitely a great guy, so I decided to go there. It was probably the best fit for me.”
Hobday also likes the fact the school is close to home.
“It worked out perfectly for me,” he said. “It's only like 45 minutes, so it's probably the best place I could go.”
The Wildcats’ shortstop believes his defense will be a plus at Corning.
“Fielding is definitely where I strive the most,” he added. “Hitting is little rough patches here and there, but I definitely strive more in fielding the ball.”
He also feels he offers strong aspects aside from his baseball skills
“I think I bring a lot of energy to the team,” Hobday said. “I try and bring people up, not have them down and all that, and I just feel like I can bring better energy to the team.”
Cool under pressure is another trait he offers the Red Barons.
“I definitely stay calm during the games,” he said.
“He's an elite defender,” said Havens. “He's been playing shortstop for us for three years now, very good defender. He has the ability with the stick as well. Great base runner.
“I think he'll continue to grow his game up there, but I think he'll separate it and have an opportunity to play.”
Hobday believes he needs to work at getting better with the bat.
“Hitting has been a struggle this year for me,” he said. “Last year, it was good for me, but this year, it's definitely been a struggle for me, so I'm working on getting that back.”
“As a team, we've been struggling, so I don't see it as an issue for him,” Havens said. “He's got a couple things in his swing that he just needs to work out and I'll bet by the end of the year he's right there with everybody else. He does have potential to be a pretty good hitter. He was, last year, one of our strongest, so he'll get it back.”
Havens said Hobday could use some more size and strength, but other than that, the coach feels he’s a “really smooth shortstop.”
“He has the ability to play outfield and has done so in the past,” Havens said. “I think he'll get the hitting going and, like I said, a really good base runner. Just the strength part, I think, is it.
“Great kid. (He’s) got a good, solid family around him and we've been lucky to have him.”
Following his time at Corning, where he will major in Accounting, Hobday will focus on getting his bachelor’s degree.
“After the two years at Corning, I'm going to be doing two years online and then working for my grandma,” he said.
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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
