Sedona Red Rock High School pitcher and outfielder Nolen Wilson is preparing full-time for a career in baseball through trial by fire.
For the second straight summer, the incoming junior is using his time away from school to get up before 6 a.m. every weekend morning and make the drive to Phoenix to play ball at the All Star Baseball Academy.
“Mostly, the competition down here is a lot greater,” Wilson explained the reason behind the commitment. “There’s a lot more solid players — more intense, more committed players than I’ve ever seen.”
Wilson is banding with friend and Cave Creek Cactus Shadows High School pitcher Carter Robinson to compete on the ASBA 15 and Under baseball team, which began play in the USA Tournament at the Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday, June 21.
“In high school I play center field; down here I play right,” Wilson said. “Carter mainly just pitches. I’m actually the closer for every game that needs to be closed, except for games the day after I’ve pitched.”
In 14 games this spring at Sedona Red Rock High School, Wilson had six strikeouts and a 5.04 earned-run average in three appearances totaling 83 innings as a pitcher — and no errors when moved to the outfield. At the plate, he scored 15 runs on 15 hits in 14 games, with six stolen bases amounting to an on-base percentage of .500 and an overall batting average of .395.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, June 25, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
