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It just doesn’t seem possible that four years ago Andrew Yacyk was part of Federal Little League’s run to the Little League World Series as a 12-year-old all-star.
Fast forward to his senior season at North Hagerstown and Yacyk has decided on his collegiate future, signing a letter-of-intent at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
“From Federal to now, in eighth grade, I was just worried about finding a good travel team and here it is four years and making a college committment,” said Yacyk. “It shows how much time I’ve put in to develop.”
Yacyk made a visit to Liberty last week and needed to look no further.
“I really liked the school,” said Yacyk. “The fact it felt right, around good people, it all fell into place.”
Yacyk said West Point and James Madison were on the radar before he decided on Liberty, a Division I member of the Big South Conference and one of the largest Christian universities in the country.
“I really liked the coach,” said Yacyk said of Jim Toman, who has rapidly developed the Liberty program in five years. The school is also in the process of building a new baseball stadium.
The Washington County Hitter of the Year in 2012, Yacyk hit .455 and set a Maryland single-season record with 51 runs batted in. He also hammered 11 home runs to help North to a berth in the Class 3A state semifinals.
He played right field, first base and pitched on occasion, and he has been told he’ll get an opportunity to play immediately when he arrives as a freshman.
“They want to see me first as a corner outfielder, and then get some time at first and pitching,” said Yacyk.
He also plans on working to get his upper body stronger and increasing his weight to around 225.
Yacyk already has his eyes set on the season opener when he joins Liberty, on the road at Auburn.