Evans standout Spires signs to play baseball at USC Aiken

Bradley Spires hopes his final year on Evans High School's baseball team will end on a high note.

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Before heading to college in the fall, the 17-year-old would like to see the Knights win the region title and advance to the playoffs.

"We've got a great team," said Spires, a right-handed pitcher who also plays center field. "Hopefully, we can take it somewhere."

On Nov. 10, Spires signed a letter of intent to play baseball at USC Aiken. He's already familiar with assistant head coach Michael Holder.

Spires transferred to Evans from Greenbrier High School at the beginning of his sophomore year and started on the junior varsity team.

"I made JV, and they told me they were interested in my arm and bat for varsity," Spires said. "I got to hit in the playoffs my sophomore year for the first year getting called up.

"That was probably the best thing for me."

For the upcoming season, Evans coach Ricky Beale said he plans to use Spires as "one of our go-to guys on the mound."

Beale, who noted that several Evans players have chosen to play baseball for USC Aiken, said he believes the school will be a good fit for Spires.

"He's very coachable," Beale said. "He's willing to get better."

Spires has also played on the Evans football team as a wide receiver.

Spires first picked up a bat at age 4 and said his father taught him everything he knows.

Spires said he would like to start as a freshman at USC Aiken but just wants to do his best to help the team.

"Whenever I went down there, just the way they treated me ... made me feel more at home," he said. "I liked the feel down there."