MOBILE, Alabama—Spanish Fort right handed pitcher/outfielder Andrew Daigle is stepping up from “The Hill” at Spanish Fort High to Spring Hill College this fall.

Daigle signed Friday at Spring Hill to play baseball for the Badgers and coach Frank Sims.

Daigle, who transferred to Spanish Fort from St. Paul's the summer before his senior year, said Spring Hill was a great fit for him.

“I just love everything about it,” he said. “The atmosphere, coach Sims, all the other coaches and it's a great group of guys coming in with me this year. The whole environment is just what I was hoping for. And there’s a lot of baseball tradition and history there."

Stan Galle Field on the SHC campus is the oldest continually used collegiate baseball field in the United States.

Toros coach Tommy Walker said Daigle was a key part of his pitching staff as they made their 2012 run for a third-straight 5A state title this past spring.

“So excited to see Andrew sign with Spring Hill,” Walker said. “He is such a fine young man and played a very important role for us this past season. Came on strong from the beginning of the season and kept getting stronger and ended up being our closer. And that's a spot that is really where you need somebody rock-solid steady and Andrew became that and more for us. But I think he has the potential to grow and develop even more as a college player.”

Recruited primarily as a pitcher, Daigle was 2-1 as a starter with a 1.63 era, two saves and struck out 42 batters in 26 innings of relief work for the three-time state champion Toros. But he hopes he gets to swing the bat some more.

“I'm going to be pitching,”he said. “But also I'm trying for outfield because I want to hit. I love pitching, but I love to hit, too.”

Daigle said his two-seam fastball is probably his favorite pitch because it is reliable, but his curve is the most fun to throw.

“Especially when it working for me. When I get ahead, it's been a real good out pitch for me. But I have a lot of confidence in my fastball, too, so I like to mix it.”

Undecided on his major, Andrew is the son of Ashley and James Daigle of Spanish Fort. He will join former Toro John Hollingsworth who will finish his career with the Badgers next spring.

Spring Hill College baseball competes in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) and helped Badger head coach Frank Sims to pass the 750th career victory milestone in April.