LINDEN — Chris Sammons extended his baseball life by at least two more years Thursday when he signed a scholarship offer to play for Alabama Southern.

The Marengo Academy backstop will assume catching duties for ASCC as he works to replicate his high school success at the collegiate level.

“They said they really liked me and like the way I carried myself,” the reserved Sammons said about his opportunity.

“I like what he brings to the table as far as his attitude and his character,” Alabama Southern coach Daniel Head said. “He plays the game the right way. I think he has a real chance to be successful at our level.”

Sammons caught every inning for the Longhorns in 2010 and has performed a similar feat in 2011. Sammons also established himself as a known offensive commodity during his junior campaign, his first as a starter. He hit double digit home runs and boasted a robust batting average while helping carry the Longhorns to the AISA, AA state finals.

“I try to take pride in both of them as much as a I can,” Sammons said of the attention he pays to both the offensive and defensive sides of his game. “It starts with defense, catching. And hitting is just a bonus.”

In Monroeville, Sammons will work to earn the starting job while he tries to help Alabama Southern continue to build its program. If he applies the same approach at that level that he has in high school, success may come quickly.

“He’s a great receiver. he’s the type of catcher that makes pitchers’ jobs easy. They loving pitching to him,” Marengo Academy head coach Jonathan Lindsey said. “He is a leader on and off the field, in the classroom, with his grades. He is a potential valedictorian. Last year, he was our hottest hitter throughout the year. He’s the type of hitter that hits velocity very well. He’ll fit right into Alabama Southern’s program.”