Every athlete in every sport wants the opportunity to play his chosen sport at the next level, whatever that level may be. Wildcat TeJaye Moye will get that opportunity next season when he dons the baseball uniform of Williams Baptist College.

Last Wednesday, the three-sport athlete inked a letter of intent to play for the Eagles with family and teammates in attendance. Representing Williams was assistant coach, Frank Lee who said WBC was "tickled to get him."

Both Trumann head baseball coach Scott Brown and assistant coach Steve Edwards were vocal in their praise of Moye.

"He's worked hard to get where he is and the entire time he's been a Wildcat," said Brown. "He's the most consistent player we've had in the four years he's played for us. He leads by example. I'm very proud of him."

"He's a great ballplayer," added Edwards. "He's coachable and does everything he's asked to do. He's a .300 hitter and he has an outstanding glove. He does all the little things right and is almost like another coach on the field."

While playing at shortstop primarily for the Wildcats, Moye achieved an .875 fielding percentage last season.

Moye, who was a starter on the Wildcat basketball team as well as a mainstay of the Trumann tennis team, started talking to the Eagles last October. In November, he went to Walnut Ridge for a tryout. Then in December the school offered him a scholarship to play for them.

"I liked the way they said they work with the players," said Moye of his impression of the coaches at WBC. "If they have to, they work with you on an individual basis to help you improve."

While Moye is obviously a stellar athlete, his classroom work has never waned as he sports a 3.5 GPA, good enough for a 19th place out of a class of 106, and also qualified for an ACT scholarship.

"They said I would probably be a utility player," said Moye of where he expects to play for the Eagles next season. "I'll be at short or third or maybe even in the outfield some."

Needless to say, Moye's father Shane, mother Cindy and sister Cecilia are overjoyed with his opportunity. Moye's father played AAA baseball for the Rangers organization until he was cut because of an elbow injury.

"He taught me about everything I know about the game," said the younger Moye. "I started playing when I was three and he was there to guide me all the way."

"We're very excited about his opportunity," said his mother. "He's always had a drive to play sports and baseball was the main thing. We hate to see him go to leave home, but he won't be that far away and if he has a problem or just needs to talk he can come home easily."

Moye, who wants to become a physical therapist, said he has played with and against a number of the Williams players over the years while on various teams. As a result, Moye should feel somewhat comfortable moving to the next level of baseball.

That fact probably won't come as a surprise to anyone who knows or has played baseball with Moye. The competitive spirit his coaches and parents referred to comes out when he talks of the game he loves. It will also, no doubt, come out and be a boon to WBC in the coming years as he goes from Wildcat black and gold to Eagle blue and white.