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Michael Hughes accepts first Division I
baseball scholarship in Albany High
history
 In
the midst of helping the Albany High School baseball team in its quest
for the school’s first Section II team title in any sport since 1997,
Michael Hughes took a little time out to make some individual history.
A senior, Michael signed a national letter of intent May
6 to pitch for nationally ranked Coastal Carolina University in the
fall. He is the first Albany High student ever to receive a Division I
baseball scholarship.
Michael signed the required paperwork during a news
conference in the school’s auditorium, flanked by his parents and
surrounded by his teammates and family
In action against CBA on April 29.
members.
A three-year varsity player, Michael was 15-2 with one
save in 18 career appearances, 17 of them starts, before taking the loss
at LaSalle on the night of his signing. He had had a career 1.65 ERA
with 135 strikeouts and 65 walks in 96 innings.
 This
season, he is one of the main reasons the Falcons (10-6 overall, 9-2 Big
10) are in first place in the conference and ranked No. 20 in the
current New York State Sportswriters Class AA poll as of May 8. Among
Section II teams, only Columbia of the Suburban Council was ranked
higher, at No. 16.
Through the loss at LaSalle on May 5, Michael was 3-2
Talking with reporters after signing May 6.
with a 2.50 ERA in five
starts this season. He had 38 strikeouts and 13 walks in
28 innings. Offensively, he was hitting .303 with seven RBIs, two
doubles, a triple and a .410 on-base percentage.
He plans to study physical education at Coastal Carolina.
The Chanticleers, of the Big South Conference, were ranked No. 24
nationally in the May 5 NCAA poll. They have won the Big South
championship 11 times and have advanced to the NCAA Tournament seven of
the past eight seasons, with three 50-win seasons in the last four
years.
The City School
District of Albany serves approximately 8,300 students in 18
elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood
schools, the district includes several
magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic
opportunities for students. The
district is more than halfway through its comprehensive facilities
project to newly
build and/or renovate nearly all of its elementary
and middle
schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is
to provide schools with the resources necessary to help students
succeed in the 21st century.
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