Marion baseball player signs on with Southern Wesleyan

This past season the Marion Swamp Fox baseball team won its first district championship and region title in over a decade.

One particular player has spent the past four seasons helping the program to improve and perform at a championship level. Swamp Fox infielder Russ White has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Southern Wesleyan University.

“It’s been great playing for Marion, I loved it. “I’ve wanted to play college baseball since I was real young so this is kind of like a dream,” Russ White said, adding that he’s excited to get back on the playing field.

White said his team wanted to go deep into the playoffs and play for a state championship. His younger brother Ross, a starting pitcher has played every season alongside his brother.

“We’ve been playing together since we were little kids, so we pretty much new what to expect,” he said of the team’s seniors and how easy it was to play together.

Joined by his parents Russell and Elaine, the proud parents have also supported their sons on the football field, with Russ playing wide receiver and Ross playing quarterback.
“I’m proud of him. Watching him play for so many years, it’s a goal that he has to continue working on. It’s tough going to school and playing ball,” his dad said, adding that Russ finished with a great season.

“The bat I remember is a big blue bat,” Elaine White said, thinking back to when her 2-year-old was first introduced to the game.
“We also went to the rec on Sunday afternoons. He was too little to play on a team, so some of the kids on his team now, at 3-years-old, they would play T-Ball together,” she said.

White said he’s interested in becoming a coach himself one day and hopes to be a teacher. Foxes Head Coach Don Cribb has set a pretty good example for the veteran player and was present at the signing.

“He’s tough, but teaches life lessons,” Russell White said of Cribb, adding that he is glad his children played in Marion.
“I love coach Cribb. I used to think he was tough when I was young, but he has helped me out a lot and I enjoyed playing for him. He’s a really good coach,” he continued.

Brother Ross said his brother had his back on the baseball diamond when he was on the mound. “It’s been fun. I like playing with him,” Russ White said. “We don’t sugar coat anything. We talk things over all the time.” Russ also batted behind Ross on the depth chart.

Russ White said he likes the way South Carolina native and Los Angles Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson approaches the game. He will join a SWU Warrior’s team coached by Mike Gillespie and said his team is in good hands.

“They’re young, but they’ll grow up,” he said.

Cribb said the school is very lucky to have a hardworking and dedicated player. “He’s a shining example of what Marion baseball is all about,” Cribb said. The baseball coach said the senior leadership and play of the underclassmen made it a rewarding and enjoyable season.

"I am looking forward to having Russ involved with our program," Coach Gillespie said. "I feel like he will be able to contribute and this fall we are anxious to see how he will work into or plans in the field and on the mound as well."

Russ White’s hobbies include hunting and fishing. His favorite subjects, he said, are history and French.

Foxes baseball coach Don Cribb, School Administrator Sheryl Warren and Athletic Director Tim Perkins and younger brother Ross, look over the should of Russ White while he signs to play baseball at Southern Wesleyan University.