WAKEFIELD
Amidst a slew of cold days in November, there were rays of sunshine and warmth on one particular day in the middle of the month. It was reminiscent of a great day for playing baseball, and a perfect moment for Tidewater Academy’s Payton Holdsworth to officially make his commitment to play baseball next year at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Holdsworth, 17, signed his letter of intent to Virginia Tech in a special ceremony in the Tidewater Academy gymnasium with his fellow Warriors supporting him in the stands and his parents, Walter and Martha Holdsworth, his Tidewater baseball coach Paul Rogers, and Tidewater’s Athletic Director Walter Westbrook by his side. Payton will be a pitcher/infielder for the Hokies.

Payton’s passion for baseball began early in life as a player on Wakefield’s recreational t-ball team. By the time he was 6-years-old he was playing kid pitch baseball on Wakefield’s Mustang team, and was the youngest ball player on that team. It wasn’t long before Payton began honing his baseball skills and playing on travel teams.

Since the age of 8, he has played on multiple travel teams, including Performance Baseball, Upper Deck Predators, Richmond Braves, Situation Baseball, Virginia Swamp Things, and most recently the Evoshield Canes.

As a member of the Evoshield Canes travel team, Payton had the opportunity to play a tournament one weekend at Virginia Tech. By the end of that weekend, Payton was offered a scholarship to play baseball for the Hokies. He credits his Canes coach, Ryan Henry, Tidewater coach, Paul Rogers, and Eric and Ryan Brittle for supporting him during this process.

Payton, a native of Wakefield, also expresses much appreciation for his parents, who have taught him how to set priorities and remain dedicated to achieving his goals.

Payton will leave Wakefield for Blackburg in July and immediately immerse himself in classes and workouts with the Hokie baseball team. His TA family and the Wakefield community are looking forward to watching and following Payton as he embarks on this next level of his baseball career. Until then, he is enjoying his Senior year at Tidewater Academy, playing his final year of Varsity basketball and baseball and remaining focused on academics.

Payton Holdsworth is the son of 1979 TA alumus Walter Holdsworth Jr. and Martha Holdsworth of Wakefield, the grandson of Walter Holdsworth Sr. and 1965 TA alumna Jean Holdsworth of Wakefield, and the grandson of Clem and Sue Pruitt of Cape Charles, Virginia.