SIGNING -- Spring Creek's Kaden Geelen signs with USC Beaufort

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 25, 2017 11:07 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Tough love from former teammate Matt Rogers influenced then-freshman Kaden Geelen in the bullpen.

He respected his leadership.

His work ethic left a lasting impression.

"He was so good, that wanted me to be good," Geelen said. "I remember saying that as a freshman I would never be as big as Matt, but now I'm bigger than Matt. Now I get to fill that role."

And carry his talent to the next level.

Geelen, a Spring Creek senior, signed a national letter-of-intent with University of South Carolina at Beaufort, an NAIA member of the Division I Sun Conference located in Hardeesville.

His decision riveted even himself.

Montreat University in the North Carolina mountains and St. Andrews University, where his older brother Kalen plays, showed some interest.

USCB was the choice.

"They were just another NAIA school close and their baseball team was pretty good, so I thought I'd contact their head coach, meet up with him and work out with them," Kaden said.

Geelen worked out with second-year head coach Jeremy Christian. The two held a impromptu workout that included Geelen rifling the ball down to the second base either standing up or throwing from his knees.

He hit a little bit in the cage.

The two kept in contact, but Christian had his reservations. Previous recruits had jumped to the NCAA ranks. Kaden assured him he was committed to playing for the Sand Sharks.

A coach who recruits blue-collar players who display strong character and work ethic, Christian continued his conversations with Geelen and offered him a scholarship.

"It made me feel pretty good," Geelen said. "I just need to keep progressing, get better and surround myself with people who want to get better. Competition breeds excellence, so I'll surround myself with good people and make myself better so I'll excel at the next level."

He's been around good people in "The Swamp."

SC head coach Heath Whitfield and his staff stresses -- like all coaches in all sports -- the importance of the little things. But Geelen's role will change this season since he's just one of four seniors who will need to guide a young team that includes a boat load of sophomores.

The group hasn't quite developed a bond.

Nor have they discovered each other's weaknesses and strengths.

"All of the seniors are very good leaders," said Geelen, who batted .303 and logged a .938 fielding percentage behind the plate last spring.

"There are so many people on the team and not one person can lead them all. Everybody needs to be collectively good leaders together."

The Gators posted a program-best 19 wins a year ago, repeated as the Carolina 1-A Conference champions and reached the eastern regional semifinals for the second straight year.

SC is 53-21 overall during its past three campaigns, including a 37-5 worksheet against league opposition. Geelen would like nothing more than a third league crown.

Numbers aren't everything, though.

"The one thing I learned from Coach Whitfield? Wow," Geelen said. "Just attitude and how to carry yourself. He's such a good coach and a really good role model. (He teaches you) how to act like a baseball player on and off the field.

"Just be good in every aspect of life, especially in school."

Hmmm.

Sounds just like Coach Christian, too, doesn't it?