PORT ANGELES — Roughrider Joel Wood is continuing a legacy of Port Angeles diamond athletes heading south to Lower Columbia Community College in Longview, signing a letter of intent to play baseball at the school next year.
Wood will join former Roughriders Cheyenne and Nizhoni Wheeler and Lauren Lunt, recent graduates who play softball for the Red Devils (Nizhoni Wheeler also plays basketball.). Roughrider star Travis Paynter played for LCC before moving on to Hawaii Pacific and Wood’s coach next year, Eric Lane, graduated from Port Angeles in 2008.
“It’s a good baseball school. They win championships, ” said Wood. “I like coach Eric.”
As Wood said, Lower Columbia is a powerhouse in the NWAC, winning a total of 13 championships, including titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
And Wood said it’s “kind of cool” to maintain a tradition of Roughriders heading to Lower Columbia.
A number of friends, teammates and family attended Wood’s signing Saturday at the high school library. Wood thanked all of his friends and families, naming one by one, including “my grandparents who came to every game and my favorite aunt.”
Roughriders coach Karl Myers said that the many friends and family who spoke about Wood “didn’t speak about his hitting with two strikes or how well he blocks the plate. They spoke to who he is as a person.”
Lane said Port Angeles is “an incredible place. To be able to come back and do a signing is awesome.”
Lane said he was able to watch Wood play a few games for the league champion Roughriders.
“He checked off all the boxes. To be able to offer him a scholarship is an honor,” Lane said.
Lane said he continues to follow the Roughriders and has developed a good friendship with Myers. There’s always the possibility of more Roughriders going on to play at Lower Columbia.
“I’ve seen a lot of them play. It’s exciting to keep the connection going,” Lane said.
