Christian at the 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament.

Liberty Christian High School senior Christian Julius is getting it done with the bat and also with solid outings on the mound this season for head coach Johnny Isom and the Warriors and soon, he’ll be working to do the same at the collegiate level.

Julius committed to Rollins College, a Division II school in Winter Park, FL to play baseball next season for Head Coach Jon Sjogren and the Tars who are off to a 15-8 start in the Sunshine State Conference.

After making All-State last season at third base (and pitching in relief) for Liberty Christian, Julius has been extremely versatile in 2016, making starts at short (four), five starts at third, two games at first, four starts on the mound and even two games catching, all the while leading the team offensively as the Warriors head into district play with a 16-1-1 record.

Julius has helped Liberty Christian to key wins this season, including a recent 8-4 victory over Lake Highlands in Dallas, TX where he collected two hits, one being a three-run homer in the first inning and later a single in the sixth. He added another three-run shot in a game before that, keying an 8-3 victory over Nimitz in Irving, TX.

Christian has tallied four homers, three doubles, two triples and 22 RBI on the season. He’s been equally as dominant on the mound, allowing just one earned run in his last 11 innings, throwing a combined 111 pitches in those two starts against Texas UIL 6A teams.

We first saw Christian at our Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP event in Grand Prairie, TX as a sophomore in December of 2014. He showed excellent two-way abilities that afternoon, throwing a low-80s fastball and a pretty good curve that sat low-70s on the mound, intriguing scouts and coaches enough to invite him to the 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament in Mesa, Arizona where he played for the North Texas team and still communicates with some of his Factory teammates.

A month later, Julius’ plus attributes shined again, showing the ability to attack hitters with outstanding command and control on the mound. His stock continued to rise through the summer as we saw him again at a College PREP in Carrollton, TX last July. By that point, Julius had gained about eight MPH on his fastball with very good secondary stuff to accompany his fastball.

The Baseball Factory experience, according to Christian’s father, Jeff, was a critical piece of the puzzle for his son’s recruitment.

“The ability to email scouting reports, player information and videos to college coaches is invaluable. Also, the “my recruiting” section of the members homepage gives players and parents a comprehensive education on the recruiting process for baseball.”

He also shared important advice to players and their families about the timing for college recruiting.

“My recommendation is to start attending those events early. We did not start early enough. It is important to build a resume and get scouting reports and put yourself in a position to get the right exposure. Baseball Factory events allow you to do just that.”

The family also participated in Baseball Factory’s Exclusive College Recruiting Program, led by Senior Director of College Recruiting, Dan Mooney, who, with his team, worked to develop a short list of appropriate schools that fit their criteria.

“We had certain criteria that we were looking for in a school,” Jeff said. “Academics were the number one requirement, followed by other factors which included size of school and cost. With the assistance of Dan and Baseball Factory’s Exclusive College Recruiting Program, Christian had a lot of options for college; options ranging from DI to DII and NAIA. The program is a great resource and Dan has the network to secure interest from schools at all levels.”

Preparing for the next step in his career, Julius reflects on his time with the Baseball Factory, working to get better and making life-long memories.

“Baseball Factory has well run events with quality people. The Pre-Season All-American tournament was a special experience for me. Not only did I meet other players that I am still friends with, but it was a good measuring stick to show how I compared to other talented ball players.”

With rapidly-developing intangibles, Julius’ stock soared, making for an intriguing prospect when Rollins College came calling. For Christian, this next step will be a homecoming of sorts; Christian was born in Jacksonville Beach, FL and the campus is about a two-hour drive from his birth place.

“I’ve felt at home from the moment I stepped onto campus,” Christian said.

As for the baseball team, Jeff says that his son felt an immediate connection to the coaching staff upon arriving and talking to them.

“Christian really connected with the coaching staff, particularly (Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator) Jim McGonigle. Jim is originally from Texas and had familiarity with our high school program. Rollins plays in a very competitive D-II conference and will provide an opportunity to Christian to be a two way player in college.”

It’s clear Christian is in the right place with the right situation and is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

“I have the opportunity to attend a prestigious Florida college with high academic standards, play baseball and potentially be a two-way player at a very high level and it’s Florida. It doesn’t get any better than that.”