GEORGETOWN — Tim Holland picked his college of choice three months ago, committing to Lake City Community College in Lake City, Fla.
The Georgetown senior and returning Daily News baseball player of the year wanted to position himself to get selected in the MLB Draft or get recruited by a top-flight Division 1 program.
However, a month ago, Holland was blind-sided with the news that Lake City would be dropping its entire athletics program after the 2007-2008 school year.
"I was definitely freaking out a little because Florida was where I've always wanted to be, and then right before my eyes, everything changed and went downhill," said Holland. "Since then I've just been trying to tell myself to make something good out it."
Holland revisited his list of suitors for potential landing points next fall. With the help of local scout Joe Carakadis, who has helped several Massachusetts baseball prodigies get scholarships in Florida, Holland visited Florida's Polk County Community College last weekend. After an extensive tryout in front of PCCC baseball coach Joe Arnold, Holland accepted a full scholarship offer.
"We're very happy to have him," Arnold said yesterday. "Tim has a lot of possibility. He can play the infield and has a chance to play center field with the speed he possesses and his great arm. He's a young guy with a body that needs to expand and get stronger, but he showed me quite a bit. The bat will talk for him and tell the story. If he hits the ball he definitely will play somewhere."
Holland's new coach has an eye-opening resume. Arnold was both a coach and scout in the Yankees minor league system. He coached at University of Florida for 11 years, helping the Gators to two College World Series appearances and three Southeastern Conference titles. Before that, he was the coach at Division 2 Florida Southern, where his team won two national championships.
"I don't think Tim could've found a better coach to play for," said Georgetown coach Mark Rowe. "He has the resume and the experience both as a player and as a coach to go with the scouting side he had with the Yankees. He (Arnold) just has an incredible wealth of knowledge, which can only help Tim."
It's almost a wonder Holland did not pick Polk over Lake City in the first place. With a beautiful campus overlooking a lake, excellent facilities, an up-and-coming program with a top-notch coach, and his uncle right down the street, Holland said he thinks he will be more comfortable at Polk next fall.
"I'm not going to say it's better, but I think I will be more comfortable (at Polk) and it will be easier for me," said Holland. "Lake City was a little more northern and a little more country. Winter Haven is more secure for me being 30 minutes away from Orlando along with having my uncle within walking distance. I just feel like this is a home away from home. Now I'm going to be a Viking."
The Holland File
Name: Tim Holland
School: Georgetown High
Grade: Senior
Sport: Baseball
News: Accepted full baseball scholarship at Polk County Community College
Accolades: Georgetown school record holder in career home runs, hits and doubles
Awards: Reigning Daily News baseball player of the year
Season stats: .375 batting average, 1 home run, 13 RBIs
