As we prepare for the 2019 High School season, we take a look at local players who have already made their commitments to play at the Division 1 level. In this article, we feature 2019 grad Will Simpson from Skyline HS. Simpson is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound 1B/OF who will suit up for the Cougars of Washington State next season. Check out what National Crosschecker, Shooter Hunt had to say: 

WILL SIMPSON 1B / OF / SKYLINE, WA / 2019

Rankings  OVERALL RANK: 313 / POS: 8

"Will Simpson has the look of a middle of the order bat with a knack for making hard contact. The right-handed hitter has a direct path to the ball with quick hands, and his strong, 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame promises even more power in the future. His ability to have consistent, quality at-bats stands out, even against premium pitching." - Shooter Hunt

Here are Will's insights on his recruitment as well as some memorable baseball experiences leading up to this point in his career. 

PBR: Why did you choose Washington State?

WS: I chose Washington State because I feel I can make an immediate, positive impact for the program my freshman year. I also really like what Coach Lees and the rest of the coaching staff have going on there. I believe the future is very bright for the program over there in Pullman. Washington State also has the major that I want to pursue, which is Sports Management.

 PBR: What other schools were you considering? 

WS: The other schools that I was considering were the University of Washington, Gonzaga University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you play? Who on staff was your primary recruiter? 

WS: Coach Spencer was the first to see me play. He saw me at a game during a local tournament in Issaquah, WA. I mostly stayed in contact with Coach Lees throughout the summer. 

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer/fall and what has that experience been like?

WS: I play for the Washington A’s 18u gold team coached by Kyle Larsen during the summer. The past few summers I have played for them have been my favorite seasons of baseball. I have a good time with my teammates while still going up against good competition.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date? 

WS: My most memorable baseball moment to date was playing in the Area Code games this summer with the Royals. 

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher you have faced in Washington? 

WS: The toughest pitcher I have faced in Washington was probably Patrick Fredrickson who is now at the University of Minnesota. It was very tough picking up his pitches because of how high he released the ball.

PBR: Any pre-game superstitions? 

WS: I don’t necessarily have any pre-game superstitions but I do need to make sure my body is loose and my arm is ready to go before I go out on the field.

PBR: Favorite MLB player and why? 

WS: My favorite baseball player is Nolan Arenado because I love the intensity that he brings to every game. I feel like I play the same style of ball, hit for power while still having a good average.

PBR: What would be your top walk-out song? (The edited version)

WS: My top walk-out song would have to be Get Silly by V.IC.

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