Edwardsville High School senior Andrew Hendrickson to play baseball for Lincoln Land

“I love the environment. It’s a high-standard environment, which I like. My dad and brother both pushed me and I’m thankful for that. They have always been there to help me and it is what helped me get to here,” Hendrickson said.

Here is Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, where Hendrickson will continue his baseball career after he graduates from Edwardsville High School.

Lincoln Land competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association. It won national championships in baseball in 1994 and 2000.

The Loggers went 41-17 last season, including 23-9 in the Mid-West Athletic Conference.

A corner infielder and pitcher with the Tigers, Hendrickson said he’s excited to join Lincoln Land.

“I’m definitely pumped,” Hendrickson said. “I went up there a couple of weeks ago and toured the field and campus and met all the coaches. I feel like it’s going to be a great fit for me.”

The Loggers will look for Hendrickson to play the corner infield positions, especially third. He may get the chance to pitch, as well.

Hendrickson said as soon as he stepped on the Lincoln Land campus in Springfield he knew he wanted to go there.

“Right when I got up there, I was like, ‘Wow.’ I really liked it,” Hendrickson said. “I really liked the field and campus. I bonded with the coaching staff and they really made me feel welcomed.”

With the state championship Tigers last season, Hendrickson hit a home run and drove in nine runs in 23 at-bats. He had a .429 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Hendrickson was 0-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched. He struck out seven and walked eight in six appearances.

Hendrickson said he will always remember his junior season, which culminated with a state championship.

“That was probably my favorite moment. I didn’t think about winning state at the beginning of the year, but it was awesome when we got there,” Hendrickson said.

Now, Hendrickson and the Tigers are hoping to repeat.

“We have a great team and squad. We will be competing against a tough schedule, but I  think we can do it again,” Hendrickson said.

Edwardsville coach Tim Funkhouser believes Hendrickson will be a major part of the team’s success this spring.

“Andrew has good power at the plate and on the mound. He’s going to continue to develop on the infield and will be a guy that can lengthen the lineup with his power,” Funkhouser said. “He’s going to be fun to watch this year.”

Hendrickson wants to study either kinesiology or construction management.