SIKESTON -- When Josh Pierce began his senior season for the Sikeston Bulldogs, he was eager to have a good year at the plate and a solid showing in the outfield.

Little did Pierce know that the effort that he would put in would land him a scholarship to play collegiate ball at Hannibal LaGrange alongside former teammate and friend Josh Jackson ('07).

"I guess the whole thing came about because Josh Jackson is there, and he's one of my best friends and I wanted to go somewhere where I knew somebody," said Pierce of his choice in schools. "The coaches were really nice and they called me up there. If they hadn't been so interested, I wouldn't have considered it. It made it a little easier of a decision, I guess."

Pierce will be part of a very strong incoming class of freshmen for Hannibal-LaGrange head coach Clay Biggs.

"We have already signed 11 for the coming year," Biggs said. "And, we still look to add a few more. All of our needs have been filled."

Pierce held down center field for Sikeston this season, making game-saving plays and deep fly balls look routine. Biggs said that Pierce will be seeing time in both center field and left field for the Trojans.

"His speed was a big thing for us," said Biggs. "The jump to the college level is a big one and at often times is hard to predict, but Josh seems to be someone who will work and have a good attitude. Both of these attributes will aid him in his pursuit of success. I think Josh will fit right in our concept of team and will do very well."

Heading into the 2008 spring season with the Bulldogs, Pierce said that he didn't know how the season would play out or that he'd wind up playing college ball at the end of the summer after graduation.

"I learned to play under pressure to earn a spot on varsity," said Pierce. "I learned a lot about the game my senior year. I don't really know what to expect at Hannibal-LaGrange but I'm up for the new challenge.

Hannibal-LaGrange has junior varsity and varsity squads, and Biggs has informed Pierce that he'd be competing with the varsity squad due to his speed on the basepaths.

"They actually call it JV and varsity," said Pierce. "They have games that are just JV and games that are just varsity, so I ll get to play no matter what. At least I'll be able to get better even when I'm not playing varsity."

Kevin Self said that his 2008 graduate will fit in well at his new school.

"We've had two sign this year (Scott Droddy and Pierce)," said Self. "I think it's a great opportunity for Josh to get to play the next four years. He'll get an opportunity to play immediately at Hannibal, whether it s varsity or JV."

"The best thing about him going there is that he s getting to play with Josh Jackson," he added. "It'll probably make them both better because it's hard to go play somewhere not knowing anybody. It'll be good, especially with Josh Jackson having played there for one year already."

Self said that he thought Pierce has improved greatly in the four years of the Sikeston program and that his arm strength was stronger his senior year than it ever has been. He also said that fly balls in the outfield will be no problem to track down due to Pierce's speed.

"It's a good Christian school that fits him extremely well," Self went on to say. "I'm really proud of him from watching him play the last four years. It's always good to see your players graduate and get to play at the next level. It's a great opportunity for him to get a college education and get a chance to continue to play college baseball. That's the ultimate goal for most high school athletes. Everybody that comes out of graduation in high school is looking to play at the college level."

Biggs said that he thinks the duo of Jackson and Pierce being on the field together again will be beneficial as well.

Jackson and Pierce have been good friends for a long time, he said. It will be nice for both of them to be able to play with each other for Hannibal-LaGrange.

Pierce said that he and Jackson have already signed up to be roommates, and he also thinks that Jackson having one year under his belt will help him out as he enters into an unknown at the college level.

"The campus is small and it'll be a lot like high school, other than the fact that I'm living on campus and away from my parents," said Pierce. "It'll be easier to adapt to since I've got somebody that's close to me, is a good friend and has already been there."

Pierce, a two-sport athlete at Sikeston, will report to campus on Aug. 21 to begin his collegiate career.