Draft’s Holbert commits to Salem

By Robert Sisk

Published: July 3, 2008

Stuarts Draft second baseman and pitcher Mickie Holbert has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Salem International University, an NCAA Division II school located in Salem, W.Va.
Holbert received a partial scholarship to join the Fighting Tigers.
At the start of the season, Holbert wasn’t sure what his future held. He said he knew he wanted to play college ball but wasn’t sure where he would end up.
“I was hoping to get noticed. I didn’t think I was D-I material and I didn’t know if I was D-II material,” he said. “It all just came together.”
Before committing, Holbert also considered attending Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, but felt a connection to Salem.
“I guess something clicked,” he said. “It felt good while I was up there.”
Holbert was also a member of the Stuarts Draft football team and ran track to stay in shape during his brief off seasons.
“[Stuarts Draft football coach Rod Bowers] wanted to put me in as a backup quarterback,” he said. “It’s a hard transition from a baseball to a football. Throwing a baseball is a lot different than throwing a football.”
In his sophomore year, Holbert got the call up from the JV baseball squad to play varsity. After graduating in June, he said that was his favorite memory from his high school career.
“I remember making the varsity squad,” he said. “I was thrilled and I didn’t think I would make it. I started half the season and that was a thrill for me. I learned a lot from that year — we lost some games and I learned how to lose, and then I learned how to win, but most importantly I learned how to be on a team. [A team] is a big deal to me. You can’t win without all nine players.”
Currently, Holbert is playing for the Staunton American Legion team to stay in shape before heading to Salem for fall practice.
“I’ve worked a pretty good amount,” he said.
Salem International is a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.