While many high school seniors are playing the waiting game to hear about college acceptances, Wareham High School senior Ian Searles doesn't have to worry. He's committed to play baseball and attend Southern New Hampshire University on a partial athletic scholarship.

A signing ceremony was held at the Wareham High School auditorium for Searles and his family on Tuesday, November 15, making Searles's commitment to Southern New Hampshire University official. Athletic Director Marc Lorango, baseball coach Dave Harrison and Principal Scott Palladino were also in attendance.

Searles' father Dick Searles said he is extremely proud of his son.

"[Ian is] extremely self-motivated and plays on as many teams as he can," Dick Searles said.

Southern New Hampshire University is a Division II school, but Searles, a right-handed pitcher who also plays third base, said it is comparable to some Division I schools, which will get him exposure to possibly play baseball professionally post-college.

Searles plans to major in marketing with a possible minor in management, however, so he will have a more traditional career to fall back on.

"I definitely want to do something business-related," he said.

Though Searles may be looking ahead to a future major league career, his father said he wants to take things "one step at a time."

"Everyone thinks their kid is a champion and I feel the same way about Ian," Dick Searles said. "But I just want him to get a good education, play ball, and have fun."

Searles's scholarship is not a full ride, which he says are really rare in baseball. He had received interest from other schools, but he said he really liked Southern New Hampshire University, both for the athletics and academics. When the school offered him the chance to play baseball, he "wouldn't let it pass,"  he said.

During his signing ceremony, Principal Palladino praised Searles for being a true student athlete who focuses as much effort into his academics and he does on the field.

Coach Harrison echoed that sentiment.

"Ian deserves everything he's getting here today," he said, adding that Searles is a role model for other student athletes because he "takes the book over the ball."

Searles, who is the only player on the Wareham High School baseball team who has committed to play for a team this early, said he became interested in the school when he visited last fall and over the summer. He also had the opportunity to play against the school's JV team, which helped make his decision.

"I feel good everything's over," Searles said, adding that the hardest part was dealing with college and scholarship forms while still maintaining his GPA and playing on numerous baseball teams both in school and in the community.

Searles attributed his success to his parents and to the coaches of the various teams he's played on - from Little League to Babe Ruth to Wareham High School and the American Legion Post 220 teams - as well as to the Grand Slam Hitting and Training Center in Taunton.

Though he said he's excited to start college, Searles is currently more concerned with his last season playing on the Wareham High School baseball team with the rest of his teammates.

"We cannot wait," he said. "It's really the last shot we have and we want to go out with a bang."