FAIRHOPE, Alabama — Brock Gilheart, the Rock at first base for the Fairhope High Pirates accepted a baseball scholarship from Bryan College of Dayton, Tenn., during a signing ceremony at FHS Thursday.

"I think Bryan is a great fit for me," Gilheart said. "The coach, coach (Taylor) Hasty, the program, it's all awesome. Everything about it just said, this is it for me. They just had their best year ever this season. They have a winning tradition and are always ranked high. The coach has a great philosophy of the game."

The Pirates' veteran at the right corner started the last two years and much of his sophomore season. His senior year culminated with play on the final day of the high-school season in the 6A state championship game in

Montgomery, a road trip he helped book with career stats like 37 RBIs, five home runs, 10 doubles and a triple at the plate with a near perfect .989 fielding percentage.

"We're going to miss so many things about Brock," said FHS coach Stu Fuller. "He has been a rock for us at first, been a producer with the bat, too. Great, great guy in the dugout. Boy the infielders are going to miss that glove of his. He saved many a throw in the dirt or off the bag. He really has become a solid first baseman. Great footwork. Bryan College is getting a good one. His work ethic, dedication, love of the game will take him far. One of the things I'll miss most about Brock is his good nature. Gets down on himself sometimes but that's normal. We could always count on him to lift us up. And it usually didn't take much to get him grinning again."

The Bryan College Lions finished 17-7, Ranked No. 2, in the Appalachian Athletic Conference in 2012. They posted a 29-5 home record. Bryan coach Taylor Hasty was impressed and released the following statement on welcoming Gilheart to the Lions family.

"It’s always exciting to have players come to Bryan who are of high character and work ethic," he said. "Brock exemplifies those qualities in addition to his abilities on the field. He comes from a great high school program with a strong history of tradition. He has been well-coached and that will serve him well at the next level. We are excited to count him as a member of the Bryan Baseball Family."

Gilheart said there were many to thank. "I just want to thank my parents," James "Clip" and Payton Gilheart. "They have always supported me and also my coaches for sticking with me, believing in me. I know I can be a real pain sometimes, like when I can get down or frustrated with myself. But they were always there for me, especially my mom and my dad."

His father was a member of the Pirates 1983 club as a junior which won the state title and the 1984 team which finished as the state runner up.

"When it comes to baseball, or football, but especially baseball, my dad has always given me a lot of encouragement," Gilheart said. "I mean he's been there. So it means a lot to me that we went as far together as we did. We did our best this year and I know they're proud. I'm going to just keep going and hope I keep making them proud."