Naylor senior baseball teammates Max Davis and Sam Rose will continue playing with one another on the diamond at the collegiate level, as both players impressed Three Rivers College head coach Matt Palmer at various tryouts.

Both players serve as anchors on the Naylor baseball team, and now have found collegiate homes to further their respective careers.

For Davis, playing at Three Rivers after striking gold at tryouts means a lot, especially representing a smaller program such as Naylor.

"We have quite a few rivals here at Naylor, and a lot of the schools that we play against are much bigger than us and have more kids," Davis said. "We have certainly had to play with a bit of an edge because of that, and that's certainly something I want to bring to the collegiate level."

Davis, who absorbed a lot of baseball knowledge from his father, picked up the game at an early age. He recalled as a four-year-old being eager to swing a baseball bat, and his affinity for the sport surged after that.

For years, Davis continued to improve his game, and a growth spurt in his junior year proved instrumental in his development. Early in his senior year, a big moment arose for the Naylor third baseman: A tryout with the Three Rivers baseball team in Poplar Bluff.

"I had a friend who was trying out for the team, and I went along with him," Davis said. "They gave me the first opportunity, and I appreciate it, and I'm glad to be able to play for Three Rivers next season."

Davis has learned several life lessons through baseball, such as teamwork and hard work, and credits his dad for teaching him the rules of the game and working with him.

"My dad was a very good athlete, and he ended up playing collegiate football," Davis said. "He's someone that I've looked up to, and he's been a big influence on me."

For Rose, his affinity for baseball also began at a young age. At the age of three, he picked up a baseball glove and bat, and the rest proved to be history.

Rose's passion for the game never wavered as he continued to make his way up the rankings, from junior high to the high school level. Three Rivers was a school the senior first baseman grew up admiring, so he knew there would be an immediate chemistry with what the institution had to offer in regards to its campus and sports programs.

"Growing up, I watched all their teams play, and I always knew it was a good school," Rose said. "It feels good to be a part of it now as a member of the baseball team."

Rose didn't initially plan on attending Three Rivers College despite his familiarity with the program, but after speaking with head coach Matt Palmer and acing a tryout for the squad, he was convinced that attending the Poplar Bluff-based institution would be the right move for him.

Competition motivates Rose, and he's not running from it. Despite understanding the plethora of talent throughout the Three Rivers College, he's hungry to seize an opportunity to establish himself.

"I am going to love it," Rose said regarding earning a spot and securing a role on the team. "The fight for playing time is going to be intense, but I am confident of my ability to hit at a high level while providing versatility at the plate and on the mound."

Liaudwin Seaberry Jr. - Daily American Republic