ELIZABETHTOWN — Zach Meares has routinely been in leadership roles for his teams.
Shortstop and pitcher for baseball, quarterback when he used to play football, point guard in basketball. Deciding which to pursue for college meant finding the right matchup.
“I always wanted to be a pitcher only in college,” Meares said. “Pembroke wanted me for pitcher. Specifically, just to pitch.”
Thursday morning in a ceremonial signing at the school media center, the East Bladen High School senior said UNC Pembroke would be his collegiate destination. Meares was flanked by his family at a signing table — parents Shannon and Anthony, and siblings Sarah and Tanner.
He chose the Braves over Methodist and Fayetteville Tech.
Coaches who have impacted him were on hand — Barry Priest, a coach and mentor since he was 8 years old; Robby Priest, who coaches football and assisted his late father Russell in baseball; and second-year Eagles baseball head coach Grant Pait. Administrators Dr. Jason Wray and Heather Thompson along with Athletics Director Patty Evers were also a part of the celebration.
“It’s a roller coaster of emotions,” Meares said describing his prep career. “I had two goes at it in the playoffs. Last year, we would have went deep again. I’m hoping this year we’ll go deep, if not win it.”
Meares heads to a Braves’ program led by 21st-year head coach Paul O’Neil with assistants Jeff Jefferson, Alex Pearce and Collins Cuthrell. Pembroke, a member of the Peach Belt Conference, was 18-5 last year before the season was cut short because of the coronavirus. As recently as 2017 and 2018, the Braves earned spots in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. O’Neil picked up win No. 700 last February.
Meares, age 17 and a modest 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, said he’ll look to get bigger in the weight room as he prepares for the collegiate level. His accomplished baseball record thus far includes helping East Bladen to its deepest playoff advance since the new version of the school opened in 2001 and two Dixie Youth Baseball World Series appearances.
Meares’ teams went 2-2 in Louisiana when he was 16, and 1-2 in Alabama when he was 17. He started for Priest’s football Eagles as a sophomore quarterback but sat out the 2019 season to concentrate on baseball.
“My curveball. That’s my pitch, my go-to,” Meares said of his best weapon. “If I’m 3-2, I’d rather throw a curveball than a fastball. That, and I mix up my pitches pretty well. Most batters don’t know what is coming.”
He describes the curve as a 12-to-6 motion and said he’s been clocked at 83 mph on his fastball and high 70s on the breaking pitch.
Meares threw 16 innings in the 2019 season as a sophomore, mostly in relief, and fashioned a 2.18 earned run average while striking out 19. East Bladen reached the state quarterfinals before a loss at Washington. Over 23 games, he had team highs hitting .382 with eight doubles and 24 runs scored.
The 2020 season included just two rain-impacted weeks of play. Meares’ one start on the mound was six innings, striking out 12 in a 9-5 win over South Columbus.
“I’m going to go into physical therapy,” Meares said of his study plans in college.
As for his baseball, he acknowledges his stature but is ready to work in the weight room.
“I expect to up my velo, in the 90s by the first game I ever start,” he said. “I know I’ll become bigger and stronger.”
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