GLENDALE, Ariz.– Madison Academy senior baseball player Ryan Harness stayed true to his word by signing with the college he verbally committed to over a year ago. Harness, alongside his mother and father, agreed to an athletic scholarship with Arizona Christian Academy located in Glendale, Ariz.

“I honor God for giving me the talent to be able to play baseball,” said Harness, son of Tim and Myunghee Harness, via a telephone interview while in the Grand Canyon State. “I love the Christian values of the school and I love the head coach as he really cares for his players. Not to mention I love the weather here.”

Harness combined his signing with the Firestorm and the fact he and his father were in Arizona to pick up his mother and return home after his parents called Arizona home while Myunghee underwent surgery and treatment for a double lung transplant at St. Joe’s Hospital in nearby Phoenix. The three family members are expected to make the ground trip back to Alabama to accommodate Myunghee’s continued recovery.

Playing mostly leftfield and the squad’s designated hitter, Harness is one of the team leaders for the Mustangs while living here with family friends while his parents lived in Arizona. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound athlete also pitches and plays for the Vipers Baseball Academy travel team. His talents on the diamond include consistently making contact at the plate providing his team with good hitting and good speed on the base paths. As for his arm strength, Harness has plenty to spare.

“This summer with the Vipers I was named to the All-Tournament team in the Perfect Game Tournament held in Marietta, Ga.,” said Harness.

The Harness family has played a huge part in the history of the current Madison Academy student-athlete. His father pushed him and supported him every step of the way. His mother has inspired him to never give up nor let negativity override the success that comes with hard work.

“I began playing baseball at a young age, but didn’t really connect with the sport and gave up baseball until I began again in the seventh grade,” added Harness. “My dad asked me to try out for the school team. He’s always been there for me.”

Harness plans on earning a degree in secondary education with his sights set on becoming a history teacher. He will carry a 3.5 grade point average to the desert area of Glendale. “Signing with both of my parents there with me was a very special moment for me and my future. I’m happy I made the decision to sign with this school.”