Recently he signed scholarship papers to play baseball at Southeastern Community College (SCC) in Whiteville.

The Mustangs made the 1-A state playoffs in baseball this year, finishing 14-11 overall and third in the Yadkin Valley Conference. Hutchins batted .361 and was second on the team in runs scored with 22. In 2005, he played in the North Carolina State Games.

In football, he used his 4.45 speed in the 40 and determination as a ball-carrier, linebacker and defensive back to help the Mustangs produce two 6-5 seasons that were good enough to make the state playoffs.

He was also an active member of the student body, graduating with a 4.08 GPA.

"I've always wanted to play baseball in college," Hutchins said during a media session at the school on Tuesday. "It's my favorite sport. I was planning to go to State (N.C. State) and they (SCC) offered me this scholarship. Everything fell in place. It was just right."

Hutchins plans to complete his education at a four-year school, and earn a degree in construction management.

On hand for the occasion were his mother Melanie, baseball coach Bobby Collins, football coach and athletic director Jim Hicks and Principal Mike Tylavsky.

"I coached him for four years," Collins said, "and he's one of the easiest I've ever had to deal with when it comes to doing extra work. He was a privilege to coach."

Hutchins helped last year's Mustang football team get off to a 3-0 start before breaking his jaw in the third game. He scored on an 80-yard run in the 21-9 season-opening victory over Princeton and had a game-saving tackle in a 7-0 win over Union Pines in the second game.

"He came to practice every day after the injury," Hicks said. "He thought he was coming back, but I didn't think he could come back and play again."

Hutchins returned as a kicker late in the season and completed the comeback by carrying the ball 15 times for 35 yards in the state playoff loss at West Montgomery.

"Hutchins is a heckuva a leader," Hicks said after that game.

Late in the baseball season, Hutchins was stunned by the death of his father, Ray.

"Sometimes you think about it," he said, "but I think I'm dealing with it pretty well. I'm trying to stay strong for my mom and my sister, Amelia, and the rest of the family."

Tylavsky could not recall Ray Hutchins ever missing one of his son's football or baseball games.

"He'd be very proud of him," Tylavsky said.

Among the many activities Hutchins was involved with at North Moore included Beta Club, Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Students, class representative and yearbook staff.

An artist, his design was used for the cover of the Randolph Telephone Company phone book.

In addition to the partial scholarship received from Southeastern Community College, he is the recipient of scholarship money awarded by Coca-Cola, Robbins VFW, Moore County Home Builders and Randolph Telephone Company.