Jeff Squier is making the most of his long journey from Colorado to Itta Bena.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior is one of Mississippi Valley State's top baseball players - leading the Delta Devils in most all offensive statistical categories.
The Northeastern Junior College transfer leads the Southwestern Athletic Conference in stolen bases with 20 on 22 attempts - which ranks him fourth nationally in Division I baseball. Squier leads the Delta Devils in batting (.388), slugging percentage (.522), on base percentage (.462), runs scored (15), hits (26) and triples (2).
His play and leadership is one of the main reasons the Delta Devils are in the running for a fifth Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title in the last nine years, but that's not all that impresses MVSU head coach Doug Shanks about this versatile player.
"As good a player as Jeff is, and I think he has major league potential, he's an even better person," said Shanks, in his the ninth year at the helm of the Valley program.
Squier is president of the Baptist Student Union group that meets weekly at North Greenwood Baptist Church, and he has spoken to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Pillow Academy.
"Jeff is a super classy guy. He's a natural leader," says Greenwood's Bobby Fisher, a former employee at Valley, who works with the BSU. "He takes his role as a role model very seriously. He's good with the high school kids. He understands they are watching to see how he acts and reacts to things."
Squier says Fisher has a strong relationship with Fisher. "He's like a dad to me. He also has helped me adapt to life here."
After two years at Northeastern in Sterling, Colo., Squier had partial scholarship offers from New Mexico and Missouri and a potential full ride at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Shanks found out about Squier through a fellow coach and got him to Itta Bena for a visit in the spring of 2007.
Squier was impressed with the way Shanks recruited him and soon picked the Delta Devils.
"I could tell he thought a lot of me from the way he stayed after me in recruiting. I knew he believed in me," he explained. "Also, I knew I would have an opportunity to play right away, and I liked Valley's tough non-conference schedule. I knew I would get a chance to play against the best."
The former standout high school point guard and quarterback immediately earned a starting spot with Shanks' team. He saw playing time at nearly every position outside of pitcher and catcher last season - playing primarily at third base. He wound up leading MVSU in hitting last season at .337.
Squier started the season in center field but was moved to short stop early in the season after an injury to starter Paul Olson. He's always been a versatile player, and he thinks that's his best chance to play pro ball.
"I am and always have been a good utility player. I will have to take advantage of my versatility to get a chance at the next level," Squier said.
Shanks says Squier has a legitimate chance to become the first Valley player drafted since Zach Penprase three years ago, and that the Colorado native has what it takes to play professionally.
"He's a gifted athlete. He has size, speed, arm strength and power," said the Valley skipper.
"I just want someone to give him a chance because he might be a major leaguer one day."
