Former Pike Liberal Arts standout Rush Hixon has committed to play baseball at Troy University beginning in the 2018 season.

Hixon, who played last season at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, will play his final season at the junior college level at Central Alabama Community College before heading back home.

“It was a surreal moment,” Hixon said. “It’s a big blessing for me. It is something that I have always wanted to do. As far as athletics go, it has been my only dream since I was old enough to play baseball. Coming back to play for the home town university and a really good program like Troy is something that I have always wanted to do since I could throw a ball.”

Hixon and Central Alabama participated in the first game of the fall season at Troy over the weekend. Hixon threw two innings and struck out four.

“I had a really good outing,” Hixon said. “After the game (Troy officials) said they wanted to sit down and talk with me. After the second game I sat down and talked with them and they told me they liked what they saw and pulled the trigger and offered to me right there.”

Hixon will be the latest player from Troy to play for his hometown team. Chase Smartt, Houston Mabray and Joey Denison also are on the roster.

“It is going to be incredible,” Hixon said. “There are going to be a lot of people in the stands that I grew up with and have a personal relationship with. That is going to make it that much better. To finally come back home and be close enough to where extended family and friends can come watch me anytime is a true blessing.”

Now that Hixon has committed, he can now start focusing on getting his team ready to take step forward this upcoming season.

“Now that I am committed I can now start focusing on Central Alabama and getting better as a team and as an individual,” Hixon said. “I have some tools that I need to sharpen up and this last year of junior college ball will really help me in doing that.”