For several years, Aaron George has been developing his skills behind the plate. Lately, he’s been getting pretty good in front of it and from the side, too.

George, a St. Aloysius junior, has turned into the ace of the Flashes’ pitching staff and hit .383 last season while leading the team in home runs (eight) and RBIs (31).

In the offseason, he put on 50 pounds and increased the velocity of his fastball. He topped out at 86 mph at a camp in the fall.

“He can do it all. And the good thing with Aaron, wherever you need him, he’ll go,” St. Al coach Joe Graves said.

Pitcher Ryan Hearn says he never worries about a passed ball with George.

“I know whenever I throw it, he’s going to catch it,” Hearn said, adding that George reminds him of ex-Flash Cody McCain, who now plays at Millsaps.

George said playing as a pitcher and a catcher has helped him develop at both positions.

“… (Y)ou get used to working the counts and you know the situations,” he said.

George said his breakout season of 2000 was the result of hard work and a disappointing freshman year. In 1999, George hit just .255 with 16 RBIs and no homers. On the mound, he had a 5.40 ERA.

“I just worked real hard in the offseason … ,” George said.

Once the season started, he surprised even himself at the plate.

“I’ve never hit that many (home runs) in a year,” he said with a smile. “It’s probably because I got in the weight room last year … .”

The hard work is already starting to pay off. Graves said several college coaches have already begun to show interest in George, and he feels that the 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior with the 33-inch vertical leap may not have peaked yet.

“Before it’s over, I don’t know that there won’t be anybody that won’t be looking at him,” Graves said.

George said he’s a Mississippi State fan, but says he’d play “at any college.” The stat scouts may be most impressed with is his grade point average. He carries a 4.0 GPA and scored 22 on the ACT as a sophomore.

“It’s been a dream ever since I started, and to think that I might really do it …,” George said, smiling.