Warren Central first baseman Zach Cox normally uses his hands to crank shots to the gap and dig tough throws out of the dirt. On Thursday, Cox made use of them by signing his letter of intent to East Mississippi Community College.

The senior officially made his commitment to EMCC in a formal ceremony at the Warren Central library, becoming the first Viking baseball player to sign with a college team in 2015.

“It feels pretty good,” he said. “All the work that I’ve put in, all the work that the coaches have done for me, it’s really great for it to finally pay off. I’m really looking forward to opening this new chapter in my life and taking it to the next level.”

Cox hit .347 last season with a team-high eight doubles and 17 RBIs to help lead the Vikings to a 22-8 record. He was named a Preseason First-Team All-American by the National Amateur Baseball Federation and also pitches for the Vikings.

Cox hit .185 as a sophomore and nearly doubled his batting average from the 2013 season to the 2014 seaason.

“I’ve never seen a kid, and I’m not just showing favoritism toward my player, but I’ve never seen a kid hit the ball as hard as he does in the BBCOR era,” WC coach Conner Douglas said. “The ball actually jumps off of his bat. We were hitting the other day in 25-degree weather and he was launching them out of the yard. He’s got fantastic bat speed.”

Cox is hoping that power will translate at the junior college level with East Mississippi.

The Lions went 33-17 last season before losing in the MACJC playoffs to East Central Community College, and the senior first baseman said he is looking forward to playing against the best of the best at the juco level next year.

“It’s great, just being able to see him progress, not only as a baseball player, but a young man. Overall, it’s just a great day for him. He’s earned it,” Douglas said. “He’s worked his tail off. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve had the pleasure of coaching and I’m excited for him. East (Mississippi) is getting a fantastic baseball player.”