To say Harrisburg’s Christian Cummins did a little bit of everything would be an understatement of grand proportions.
He did a lot of everything.
Cummins hit .532 in his senior season knocked in 38 runs, scored 54 times, stole 30 bases and hit five home runs – while striking out only five times in 133 plate appearances en route to being named The Southern Illinoisan’s Baseball Player of the Year.
The University of Illinois signee helped the Bulldogs post a 58-8 record over the last two seasons, including a 27-5 mark this season. Harrisburg High School looked primed to return the sectional finals before suffering a shocking upset at the hands of Anna-Jonesboro, who entered the Class 2A regional in Carterville at 12-15.
Cummins, who was named to the all conference and Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association First Team All-State teams earlier in the month, went 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored, but it was not enough as the Harrisburg High School lost 5-4.
“(Cummins) was a great leader and one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen,” said Harrisburg AD Jay Thompson in a phone interview after the announcement of the Southern Illinois River-to-River (Ohio Division) All Conference squad.
In each of his four seasons, Cummins improved his batting average. As a freshman he hit .410 and was able to follow that up with a .428 showing in his sophomore year. In his junior year, Cummins batted .438 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs, 22 stolen bases and 11 doubles as the team’s lead-off hitter.
