Local Waynesboro, Pa. product Brady Bakner spent his senior year of high school at Scotland Campus Sports, an athletically enriched institution with year round training and emphasis on placing student-athletes to collegiate programs.
As one of several Knights to hit a robust .400+ on a revamped high school roster, the left handed Bakner was an instrumental piece in a high powered offense that went 24-2 and trounced local competition in the fall.
Bakner signed with Hagerstown Community College in Hagerstown, MD this weekend.
Bakner compiled 19 hits and 11 RBI for Scotland Campus’ high school team.
Pitching wise, Bakner collected 15K in 17 innings.
Bakner’s close ties with the coaching staff and players at Hagerstown were factors which propelled his commitment this weekend.
“A majority of the players on Hagerstown roster, I’ve either played with or against throughout my career,” said Bakner, who played varsity as an eighth grader and a freshman at Shalom Christian Academy before spending his sophomore and junior seasons at Grace Academy.
“I was open to all options throughout my recruitment and really keeping the door open, but I thought that Hagerstown was the best place for me. It is close enough so that my family could attend games and see me play. (Head Coach) Scott Jennings, in all his years as a collegiate coach (38) he has never had a losing season. I understood the chemistry of the guys on the team do that’s a big factor, that’s of course beneficial to the team environment and they are all really good guys. I’ve also known the pitching coach there, T.J. Hose, since I was about six years old. I always said I can see myself (at Hagerstown).”
Though only 30 minutes from Waynesboro at Scotland Campus, Bakner lived in on-campus housing. He said the program’s structured environment and discipline helped him simulate the college experience. He described it as pivotal in his development and readiness for the rigors of the collegiate level.
“It definitely challenges you and you learn the discipline and the work ethic that comes from being in that type of atmosphere,” said Bakner, who hit .300+ throughout his four years of high school.
“There were times when we would wake up for 5AM workouts in freezing 10-degree weather and bundled up in jackets and walking to the field, barely able to feel our hands. That’s what builds a work ethic. The process of going to Scotland definitely ingrained a work ethic in me that I might not have realized I had. So it was special for that reason.”
Bakner is the second Knight in as many years to commit to Hagerstown. The roster includes catcher Dillon Sunnquist, who was hitting .393 with 10 runs as a freshman through eight games before the 2020 campaign abruptly culminated due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like Sunnquist, Bakner possesses deceptive strength and speed along the base paths.
“I definitely got stronger with the workouts and was able to gain velocity and get better as an outfielder,” said Bakner, who played first base, pitcher, and outfield throughout his high school career.
“Working with (Scotland Campus) coach Jordie Henry, I was able to improve my pitching. At Hagerstown, I’m willing to play whatever role and position they need me to.”
Heading to Hagerstown gives Bakner the opportunity to be reunited with Brayden Quirple, Riley Jackson, and Todd Stocks. All four were at the aforementioned Grace Academy.
“Riley, Brayden, and Todd are all a year older, they graduated from Grace and I went to Scotland,” Bakner said.
“There was some talk of ‘what could have been’ if we all got to play again together. This now gives us that opportunity to be reunited and be teammates once again.”
