BY WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Five high school baseball standouts from Shelby County plan to ink college scholarships with Southeastern Conference schools during the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s early signing period, which runs Nov. 10-17.

Two baseball players will follow through with verbal commitments to play baseball at the University of Alabama and signed scholarship papers with the Crimson Tide.

Thompson left-handed pitcher Jonathan Keller and Oak Mountain right-handed pitcher Jake Hubbard will each sign scholarships to play at Alabama. Keller and Hubbard will each sign scholarships at signing ceremonies at their respective schools.

Oak Mountain catcher John David (J.D.) Crowe plans to sign a scholarship to play baseball at Auburn University, where he will join former Eagles’ standouts Kevin Patterson and Bradley Hendrix.

Pelham right-handed pitcher Trevor Fitts, who was named the Shelby County Reporter Player of the Year following his junior season, will sign a baseball scholarship with Mississippi State University at a signing ceremony in the school cafeteria Nov. 10.

Spain Park right-handed pitcher Chris Ellis will sign a baseball scholarship with the University of Mississippi.

In addition to Ellis, Spain Park catcher Carter White will sign a baseball scholarship with the University of Memphis and first baseman/right-handed pitcher Alex Close will ink scholarship papers with Liberty University.

Ellis, White and Close will be recognized during a school ceremony on National Signing Day in Feb. 2011. Spain Park senior Michael Johnson, who plans to sign a men’s golf scholarship with Auburn University during the early signing period, will also be recognized in the ceremony in Feb. 2011.

Two Oak Mountain volleyball standouts will also sign college scholarships during the early signing period at a school ceremony Nov. 10.

Outside hitter Samantha Skinner will put her verbal pledge to play volleyball for the University of Alabama in writing at a scholarship signing Nov. 10 at the school cafeteria.

Setter Chelsea Payne will join Skinner at the signing ceremony as she inks scholarship papers with the University of West Alabama.

Oak Mountain basketball standout Garrett Cosgrove will sign a scholarship during the late signing period in April 2011.

Cosgrove, a small forward, will sign with the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he will join former Eagles’ standout Ronnie Mack.

Oak Mountain senior Kreable Young, a state champion swimmer, will sign a swimming and diving scholarship with the University of Western Kentucky in the school cafeteria Nov. 17.

Briarwood Christian School senior Caroline Seay plans to sign a softball scholarship with Samford University.

Please report additional scholarship signings to sports@shelbycountyreporter.com.