JEB Stuart Baseball Player Signs With VMI

After a dinner meeting with the baseball staff from the Virginia Military Institute in July, it didn’t take Jack Gomersall long to figure out that’s where he wanted to play his college ball.

It also didn’t take him long to start looking up VMI hats online. Tuesday, the 17-year-old pitcher from JEB Stuart High signed a scholarship offer with VMI.

“I am very excited to play at VMI,” said Gomersall who maintains a 3.0 GPA. “I had gone to dinner with them and they offered the scholarship.”

Stuart baseball’s reigning Most Valuable Player earned All-Northern Virginia National District honors for the Raiders. At the plate last season, Gomersall hit .395 with 8 RBI and 32 hits. On the mound, the right-handed pitcher finished the 2012 season with a 6-4 record and a 3.52 ERA. The University of Connecticut, George Mason University, the College of William & Mary and Radford University also recruited Gomersall.

For Stuart baseball coach Randy Lightle, Gomersall is his first NCAA Division I athlete. Lightle told other current Stuart baseball players in attendance Tuesday to always follow their dreams.

“There’s every opportunity out there for you,” he said.

Tricia and Mark Gomersall, Jack’s parents, couldn’t stop smiling during Tuesday’s signing ceremony at the school. Driving Gomersall around to practices, games and tournaments may be over soon, but the road trips to see him play for VMI are just beginning.

“We were so excited from day one,” Tricia said. “It’s such an outstanding school. It’s been his dream since he was a little kid to play baseball.”