Fruitland’s Blackwell to don Chukar colors
Fruitland senior set to catch TVCC pitching staff

By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Friday, June 5, 2009 10:18 AM PDT

Argus Observer file photo Fruitland’s Kyle Blackwell will not have to travel very far next year for school as he has decided to play for the Treasure Valley Community College Chukars baseball team. Blackwell will study education while at TVCC.

Fruitland—Fruitland High School senior catcher Kyle Blackwell will continue his baseball career next spring at Treasure valley Community College.

Blackwell, a former All-Argus Player of the Year, said playing for Fruitland was the best thing for him.

“It’s the best instruction around,” Blackwell said. “I got the best instruction on a day-to-day basis.”

Playing the position of catcher for a coach, Russ Wright, who was a former catcher himself, Blackwell said Wright was tough, but that made him a better catcher mentally.

“I owe coach Wright a lot. He did a lot for me as far as preparing me on the day-to-day grind of the college schedule,” Blackwell said. “He (Wright) also taught me how to be a good leader on the field.”

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Playing for the Grizzlies, Blackwell said his greatest memory on the diamond came this past season during the championship game when he was at the plate, his younger brother, Daulton Blackwell, was that third base and his father was coaching at first.

“I got a base hit and drove in my brother and my dad was right there at first base,” Blackwell said. “That was pretty special. It was a nice family affair.”

The decision to play at TVCC was not a hard one for Blackwell.

“I have always wanted to be a Chukar,” the catcher said. “I can remember when coach Gary Van Tol had the TVCC program and going to their speciality camps, and they are the ones who got me into catching, and I owe a lot to them for getting me started as a catcher.”

In addition to that, Blackwell said he also wants to help out the hometown team since he is a hometown player.

“It’s a good program, and it is right across the bridge from all my friends and family, so they will be able to come watch me play,” Blackwell said.

The catcher said he plans on studying education while at  TVCC and hopes he can continue his college education and career at a four-year college when he is done at TVCC.

Blackwell added that he would like to thank coach Victor Martarano and Troy Bidwell for all the work they put in teaching him the game, and his family for all the support they gave him through his high school career.

Blackwell said, after his time at TVCC, he would like to continue his baseball career at a D-I school somewhere in the northwest.

“I just want to thank my family and my coaches for giving me this opportunity,” Blackwell said.