The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ALREADY an early signee for the Jackson State baseball programme next spring, Laheim Bell has set the tone for a dominant senior season at Vero Beach High School.

Bell has helped lead the Vero Beach, Florida programme to a 4-0 start this season hitting .429 with a .500 OBP, six hits, two home runs, six hits, six runs scored and nine RBI.He opened the season with an RBI triple and a run scored in an 11-2 win over Satellite and followed with a a three run home-run and scored two runs in an 11-1 over Heritage.

In a 19-2 win over Sebastian River, Bell went 2-3 with a home-run, a triple, four RBI and two runs scored and in a 10-0 win over Bayside, he went 2-5 with a double, a run and an RBI.

The 6’1” 225 pound catcher and utility player was announced as a member of the 2022 early signing class for Jackson State Tigers baseball programme in the Southwestern Athletic Conference,

Bell and the other signees will join the Tigers in the Spring 2023 season. The group includes three pitchers, one outfielder, one catcher and one infielder, including a two-way player.

“I’m super excited about our early signing class,” Tigers head coach Omar Johnson said, “We look forward to seeing our fans out at Thee ‘Bob’ this spring.”

Bell, a product of International Elite Baseball Academy, played 23 games for Vero Beach as a junior last season.

Bell hit .419 with a 1.100 OPS, 26 hits, 18 RBI, a team-leading two runs and scored 16 runs.

The Indians were eliminated in the Regional Quarterfinal with a 3-0 loss to Palm Beach Central. Bell finished 2-3 in the season finale.

Vero Beach won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A District 9 title to earn their spot in the regionals. Bell was 0-2 in the semifinal win over Centennial but finished 1-2 with one run and one RBI in the District title game win over Treasure Coast.

Bell had an immediate impact on the programme and began April with home-runs in back-to-back games as a part of the Indians’ 18-game winning streak.

He finished 2-4 with one home run, two RBI, and a run scored against Centennial (April 2) and had identical numbers the following game against South Fork (April 6).

Bell was recently named to the All-Tournament team of the World Wood Bat Association World Championships in Jupiter, Florida. He also participated in the WWBA 2022 Grads/17U National Championship Prep Baseball Report Senior State Games.

Bell continues the tradition of Bahamians on the Jackson State Tigers roster.

The programme has previously recruited Desmond Russell, Stephen Curtis, Aneko Knowles, Sebron Mackey and Jashanno Sweeting.