On Friday, May 9, Goshen High School senior Tyler McLendon signed his letter-of-content to play college baseball at Wallace Community College in Selma. 

McLendon wrapped up his senior year boasting a .554 batting average with seven doubles, two triples, 19 RBIs, 27 runs and 17 stolen bases. He also held a .613 on-base percentage and a .723 slugging percentage. The senior was the true definition of a utility for Goshen, playing a number of positions, including pitcher and catcher. 

McLendon pitched 19 and 1/3 innings this season, striking out 35 batters. He also tallied 102 putouts, 17 assists and one double play with a .930 fielding percentage. He also caught nine runners stealing from behind the plate. 

McLendon also played football at Goshen, earning All-Messenger honors twice as a receiver. McLendon came into his senior baseball season with the goal to earn a college scholarship but holding no offers. 

“Wallace was the team that took a chance on me and I’m thankful for that,” McLendon said. “Whenever I went there during my tryout, the coaches kept going, ‘Wow.’ I’m a 2A baseball player at Goshen and I had a college coach saying, ‘Wow.’” 

McLendon said he received the offer from Wallace midseason and it meant the world to him.

“It was really meaningful for me and I think it just made me want to work even harder,” he remembered. “It really hit me on the way home. I called my parents and told them about it and they were so excited. It really meant a lot.” 

McLendon said that he will play catcher in college and he’s looking to major in business. 

“I just want to go to college and do whatever I have to do,” he said of his goals. “I want to play baseball and earn a starting spot and make sure I maintain good grades and get my degree.”