By F.W. Manning II

Sports Writer

Nicholas Collins recently made a verbal commitment to play Division I baseball as a scholarship player at Georgetown University.

According to Collins, a senior 3B/1B/P, who begins his third season as a captain for the Union Pines baseball team this Monday, he made the actual verbal commitment over the telephone last Tuesday.

"It is a dream come true for me," said Collins. "This is something I have been working hard to accomplish since I was 8-years-old, and even before that. I really appreciate the help I have received from Coach Hill and my showcase coaches along the way."

Collins turned in the second of two straight monster seasons last year on the diamond. Over the course of his junior campaign he batted .539 with 37 RBIs and 18 extra base hits - including nine doubles and seven homers - and 36 runs, while slugging .987 with an OBP of .621.

As a sophomore Collins was voted the runner-up in the Cape Fear Valley Conference Player of the Year voting for baseball, finishing second to Gray's Creek senior ace Brandon Browne.

The 6-foot-3 southpaw slugger posted phenomenal offensive statistics that season as well, leading Union Pines in all but one offensive statistical category, batting .603 with five home runs, 38 RBIs and 35 runs scored. His eight doubles were second-best on the team. Out of 95 total plate appearances that season he struck out just two times, while also drawing 18 walks. He had an on-base-percentage of .684 and a .945 slugging percentage.

Vike head baseball coach Chad Hill has called Collins a "special player," since he joined the program as a freshman back in 2009.

"Nic is a wonderful kid who just does it all," said Hill.

While Collins is a stud out on the ball field, he is also an all star in the classroom, where he has remained within the top two-to-three students in his class throughout his scholastic career.

It is another reason why Georgetown seemed like a logical fit for him.

"The academic reputation Georgetown has was a huge factor in my decision-making process," said Collins. "I cannot just think about playing baseball while I am at college. I also have to consider what I will do once I am finished playing at the D-I level and receiving a Georgetown diploma says a lot."

Right now Collins' main academic interest is in the study of law, and he is considering some sort of undergraduate business tract at the university.

Collins will make it official when he signs his national letter of intent on national signing day.