After years of hard work, long practices and countless innings, senior Liam Jones has officially committed to play Division 1 baseball at Bucknell University. The Alexandria City High School standout pitcher says the decision felt right the moment he stepped on campus.

“Bucknell just had that perfect mix of academics and athletics,” Jones said. “They have a strong ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality that fits me. The business school is one of the best, and the baseball program has a track record of sending guys to the next level, which is my goal too.”

Jones’s commitment came just a day after his official visit, where he got the chance to meet with coaches, tour the campus and imagine himself there. “When they offered me in the coach’s office, I was overwhelmed. The recruiting process is tough, so to finally have that moment was huge for me,” he said.

His high school baseball experience, especially the intensity of playing for his school, has helped prepare him for what’s ahead. “Travel ball is about getting seen, but high school ball is about winning for your school and your team. It’s more pressure, but also way more fun, that pressure has made me mentally stronger,” said Jones.

Jones takes the most pride in his ability to handle adversity. “Baseball is full of failure. I think what makes me different is how I stay focused and bounce back quickly,” said Jones.  He’s also working on sharpening his game knowledge, especially pitch decisions and strategy.

One of the biggest influences on Jones’s journey has been his pitching coach, Zach Dials. “He’s changed my outlook on everything. I’ve never been more driven, and I give him a lot of credit for where I am today.”

Balancing school, sports and a social life isn’t easy, especially at a school like Bucknell. But Liam is ready for that challenge. “I’ve already had to make sacrifices. Academics and baseball come first, and I’m okay with that,” Jones said. 

Some of his favorite high school memories didn’t even happen during games. “It’s the moments after practice, hanging with my teammates, grabbing food, those are the ones I’ll remember forever.”

Looking ahead, Liam isn’t setting small goals, “I want to play right away, and honestly, I think I can be first team all-conference. That’s how I’ve always thought—if you don’t believe in yourself, it’s easy to fall behind in college sports,” said Jones. 

When it comes to handling pressure, Liam’s answer is simple, “Self-confidence. You’ve got to believe in yourself when it counts, and that comes from doing the extra work when nobody’s watching.”

For younger players hoping to follow his path, his advice is all about consistency, “Motivation is easy when you feel good. But real dedication is doing the hard stuff when you don’t want to. That’s what separates the good from the great.”

With a strong mindset and love for the game, Liam Jones is ready to take his talents from the Alexandria City Titans to the Bucknell Bison.