Alison Gosnell
Elijah Henderson, a two-time all-State baseball standout with Blue Ridge High School, signed with Clemson University Friday.
Alison Gosnell
Brandon Southern, an all-State catcher with Blue Ridge High School, signed with Toccoa Falls College Friday.
Alison Gosnell
Elijah Henderson's signing drew some young fans.
Alison Gosnell
It's hard to figure out who is missing from this photo of signing day for Elijah Henderson and Brandon Southern.
Elijah Henderson, an infielder, who already owns several BRHS offensive records, signed with Clemson University.
Brandon Southern, catcher, a defensive talent and quality hitter, signed with Toccoa Falls College in Georgia.
Both players signed with family, coaches, teammates and friends at the school’s library.
Henderson, a senior, has a career .458 batting average, .601 on-base percentage, 66 runs scored, 60 runs-batted-in and five home runs. He has started every game since his freshman season. He was moved to leadoff batter his sophomore season and has 42 stolen bases. Henderson has 130 career assists and 61 putouts.
Henderson is an all-Region selection in 2015 and 2016, and all-state selection as a junior last year.
Southern is a two-year starter while playing on the varsity since his freshman year. He has a .500 batting average in 51 games played. Defensively, Southern has caught 29 runners attempting to steal and picked off 10 runners.
Southern was all-Region and all-state in 2016.
“We are extremely proud of these young men,” head baseball coach Travis Henson said. “They have committed to improving daily all along, which is why they have been able to experience great success and the opportunity to compete at the next level.”
“Each of these student-athletes are great representatives of their families, their teammates, Blue Ridge High School and the Blue Ridge community,” Henson said.
Blue Ridge has won 49 games the past three season with Henderson and Southern in the lineup. That includes a 20-game consecutive win streak last season while winning the Region championship.
“These two players are a big reason for that success,” Henson said.