One year ago, Brady Wallace helped Hartselle clinch the Class 5A state championship by getting the game-clinching win over Spanish Fort in Game 2.

Today, Wallace is going to be pitching for a Division 1 baseball program.

The Hartselle senior, who received his high school diploma last week, recently signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Alabama A&M in Huntsville.

Wallace said he received a couple of other two-year school offers from Wallace State and Snead State, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play for a Division 1 school.

“It’s close to home,” Wallace said. “At Alabama A&M, you’re going to be going against Division 1 opponents and that’s going to be exciting.”

Wallace also said he liked newly hired coach Mitch Hill.

“He’s got some fire,” Wallace said. “I think he’s going to help the baseball program improve up there.”

While at Alabama A&M, Wallace said he plans to study business management and marketing.

One of the things that Wallace will never forget will be pitching in the state championship at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium against Spanish Fort. During the season, Wallace didn’t get many opportunities to pitch, but he made it count during that final game.

“That’s at the top of the list,” Wallace said. “It’s the moment that I will remember the rest of my life.”

In addition to Wallace, Hartselle High School baseball had two other college signees. Dakota Fowler signed this spring with Lee University Flames and Brett Blackwood will play for the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers.