Lee Academy senior pitcher and shortstop Graydon Gullick announced Friday he would be continuing his baseball career at Mississippi Delta Community College at the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year.
Gullick is a running back, kick and punt returner on the football team and runs relays in track, but there was no doubt he would be playing baseball in college.
“I prefer baseball. It’s been in my family since I was little,” Gullick said. “It’s just what I grew up with.”
Gullick’s dad, Jason Gullick, uncles Cody Gullick, Garrett Radicioni and Reeves Gaddy and great-grandfather, the late Charlie Renaldo, who has a local field named after him, and cousins, have all played baseball.
Gullick’s baseball career began at age 3 playing T-ball and is glad to be playing for Mississippi Delta.
“I just felt like it was a good fit for me,” Gullick said. “I liked all the coaches, coaching staff. I like the environment there. It just seemed like a really good fit.”
Colts coach Brock McKnight praised Gullick both as a baseball player and person.
“I’ve met Graydon as a sophomore,” McKnight said. “He transferred into us. From the moment I met him, I knew he was going to be able play college baseball. From the way he handles his business in practice and the way he handles his business in school, he’s a standup guy. He helps us in many ways. Some things he does on the baseball field are pretty amazing. From the moment I met him, I knew he could play pretty well. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for this next chapter for him.
“He’s a great kid. He’s one kid that it’s real easy to talk good about just by the way he carries himself and the way he works. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to succeed and play this game for a long time.”
Recent challenges from the COVID pandemic have not stopped Gullick from achieving his dream of playing college baseball.
The pandemic caused the Colts’2020 season to be cut short. College athletes from last year did not lose a year of eligibility due to the pandemic, but there was a still a spot for Gullick at MDCC.
“It made me feel really good that they still gave me a chance even though they still had kids on there from last year,” he said. “They still had a spot. I just felt really good.”
Gullick said he was able to keep his game sharp playing baseball most of the year in other leagues. He plays for the Panola Pirates and Easley Baseball Club. The fall is the only time of year he does not play.
As a utility player at Mississippi Delta, Gullick will be spending a lot of time working on his pitching. He is prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure his hitting remains sharp at the same time.
“I’m still going to have the same work ethic I have now,” Gullick said. “I’m not going to let just pitching get in my way.”
Looking back on his high school career, one highlight for Gullick came during his abbreviated junior year. The Colts split a doubleheader at Pillow Academy in Greenwood and Gullick said that was when he knew they had a really good team. Lee lost the first game by one run in the final inning and won the second game 4-0.
Gullick hit a double to get things going for the Colts in the second game.
He hopes to continue his baseball career at a four-year college after Mississippi Delta, but for now, he is focused on his senior season at Lee.
“Those two guys over at Mississippi Delta are doing really good things. Coach Luke Stanley is their head coach and coach Tyler Milligan is their assistant,” Gullick said. “They’re two of the better young guys in JUCO baseball and they keep up with him periodically through grades and stuff on the field. They keep up with him and he keeps up with them the best he can.”
Gullick thanked his parents Jason Gullick and Christie Simmons, grandparents Eddie and Debbie Simmons and Gary and Debbie Gullick for everything they have done for him.
