His moves on the field are about as articulate as the few words he speaks in the dugout.Chris Garrett’s passion for baseball can be seen through the way he plays, tirelessly and effortlessly.Play after play, the Warrenton Post 122 standout does his job without complaint, never jarred by emotion.“Nothing is too flashy about his game,” said Junior Legion Coach Ken Dildine. “He makes the routine plays, and occasionally makes an above average play.”What stands out about Garrett is his unparalleled dedication.“I made a commitment to the team, so I believe it’s my duty to show up to every practice and every game,” said Garrett.He played 36 games this summer, seven more than any other player in the Warrenton Legion program.“Chris was there for everything,” said Dildine. “He was dependable and willing to do anything for the team.”Garrett wasn’t just accountable to Dildine. He double-rostered, also playing 22 games for Brian Vogt’s Freshman team. He never missed a single game or practice, putting himself on a rare plateau among his teammates.“We asked a lot of Chris, and he could always be depended upon,” said Vogt. “You could tell near the end he was getting tired and understandably so.”He played as many as three games a day, even filling in for the AAA team on occasion. It’s a place he will likely find himself a lot more next season, as Garrett is expected to move up to help out a depth-deprived Senior Legion team.“It means a lot because I’ve loved baseball for a very long time,” said Garrett, who led the Freshman team in multiple hitting and pitching categories.“I felt good about my offensive numbers and what I was able to produce on both teams,” said Garrett.He batted .429 on the A team, collecting 30 hits while scoring 20 runs. He was also a team-leader with eight doubles.“At the beginning of the season I wasn’t feeling comfortable, but then I realized I was letting pitchers get ahead in the count,” said Garrett. “I was giving them the advantage.”His statistics weren’t quite as sharp on the Junior team, but he still batted second-best behind James Dotson at .323. Garrett had 10 hits through 14 games.“The pitchers in AA have a little more skill, control and speed,” said Garrett, explaining the difference in his numbers.His performance gradually improved throughout the season, as he analyzed and tweaked each move with the help of his father, also a baseball enthusiast.“A lot of it is his ability to learn,” said Dildine. “He doesn’t shy away from anything you tell him.”Garrett was even pressed beyond what he thought his own personal limits were, with Vogt asking him to pitch on 10 occasions. He carried a team-best 1.709 ERA through 28 innings, surprising even himself.“I didn’t feel as if my pitching was that good,” said Garrett, who had dabbled on the mound as a freshman at Warrenton this spring. “It’s kind of surprising to see my stats.”He struck out 25 batters and walked 10, going 2-3 as a starter.Whatever it was, his commitment or his numbers, opposing coaches took notice. He was chosen as a first-team selection to both the A and AA All-Star teams, during which he’ll compete this Saturday in New Haven.“I’m honored to play on both all-star teams,” said Garrett. “I want to enjoy the experience, because it doesn’t come that often.”

Chris Garrett ended his summer campaign with the Post 122 Junior Legion with a 2.94 ERA on the mound and had one save. He will continue to play this summer with the Senior Legion baseball team.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.