Prep Spotlight: Farmville Central's Trey Williford

Farmville Central’s Trey Williford has been getting it done at the plate and on the mound for the Jaguars baseball program.

On the mound, the 6-foot-3 junior is 5-1 in 12 appearances, having struck out 112 batters and walked 25 in 57.2 innings as Farmville Central earned a berth in the NCHSAA Class 2A baseball playoffs. In the Jaguars’ first-round game on Tuesday, a 5-3 victory over South Columbus, Williford got the win, tossing six shutout innings, yielding just two hits, walking three and striking out 11.

Offensively, going into Tuesday’s game, Williford was batting .433 with a .564 on-base percentage and .666 slugging percentage, all team-leading statistics. He has three doubles, three home runs and 19 runs batted in.

Q: Where did you get your passion for baseball?

A: Just growing up playing. Loved it. Always liked being out here, and I grew up around baseball, especially Farmville Central, either in the dugout being a batboy or just coming out to practices.

Q: When did you realize that baseball was going to be your sport?

A: I would say probably eighth grade, when I really turned it up. Ninth grade, when I got some innings on varsity and people started telling me how good I could be and what I need to work on.

Q: Is there anything you learned watching your father coach and teach basketball that translates to baseball?

A: Just learn to be coachable. He always says be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, so you’re not going to get better if you’re not coachable.

Q: Do you get more satisfaction out of a great pitching performance or a great day at the plate?

A: Either one, but ultimately whatever I can do to help the team win.

Q: What has progressed most with your game? What aspect of the game are you most pleased about in terms of your personal progression?

A: Really, the command. I’d say a couple of years ago, I really didn’t have the command I could. Some nights, I was on and off. You never knew what you were going to get with me. That’s been a big reason why I’ve been so successful.

Q: What are your personal and team goals for the rest of this season and next?

A: Goal-wise, it’s always to come out here and be dominant. Show them that I want to be here, I’m meant to be here. Do whatever I have to do to help the team win again.

Q: Who is looking at you at the next level?

A: It’s great to be wanted. If you get to the next level, you’re the top whatever percent you want to say. Barton has shown a lot of interest. That’s a good place. Ferrum, Columbia, talked to ECU. Everyone says I’m on a lot of radars. This summer is going to be big.