With his home diamond in the background, Cheverus senior Jared Brooks, joined by his parents, Adam and Jennifer, baseball coach Mac McKew and athletic director Gary Hoyt, signs his National Letter of Intent Wednesday to attend and play baseball at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts.

“I was looking at some other schools and it came down to Quinnipiac, Wheaton and Stonehill,” Brooks said. “Stonehill was the best fit for me. It’s a great business school and I was able to get a generous academic scholarship. I’ve wanted to play in college since I was little.”

Brooks, a first baseman and top hitter for the Stags, hasn’t been able to pitch in high school due to Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm, but he plans the pitch at the college level.

“They project me as a pitcher,” Brooks said. “It’s been awhile, but hopefully I’ll be on the mound this spring. I’m ready to get out there.”

McKew raved about what Brooks brings on and off the field.

“Jared’s much more than just a good baseball player,” McKew said. “He’s proven himself in the classroom and as a person. He has a very good baseball aptitude. Pitching is his meal ticket and many kids would have gotten discouraged not being able to pitch, but he’s made himself one of our most productive hitters. He’s led the team in RBI the past two years. He’s the guy I want up in the clutch. He’s a steady defensive first baseman. He hasn’t made an error in two years. He’s a real leader, on and off the field.”