Fox Creek High School's Joe McCarty has made the leap into intercollegiate athletics, and is now in his first week of studies at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, in Laurinburg, N.C., about 80 miles southeast of Charlotte.

The 5-foot-10, 150-pound pitcher/outfielder signed the paperwork Aug. 18 for a scholarship. McCarty noted that the Knights recently got a new baseball coach, Nat Boykin. In turn, Boykin got in touch with McCarty and invited him up for a campus tour.

"I liked it a lot, so here we are," said McCarty, who noted that he isn't yet focused on a particular academic area but has sports management and sports medicine among possible career interests.

His deal with the Knights, rooted partially in baseball and partially in academics, will cover about half of his college expenses, he added.

David Bell, McCarthy's coach at Fox Creek, said, "He's a strikeout pitcher with a big curve ball - a pretty good kid."

McCarty, whose parents are Cari Rodriguez and William McCarty, said his strengths as a player include a good work ethic and solid knowledge of the game. In terms of improvement in the months ahead, he said he aims to get stronger.

St. Andrews is a member of Conference Carolinas, which also includes Barton, Belmont Abbey, Coker, Converse, Erskine, King, Lees-McRae, Limestone and Mount Olive colleges, along with North Greenville and Pfeiffer universities and Queens University of Charlotte.

The Knights went 11-36-1 in the 2010 season. McCarty pointed out that fall practice is coming up within the next couple of weeks.