Dukes’ recruit tops 90mph on mound, headed into senior campaign at LHS
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Nov. 12 — It’s official. After announcing his verbal commitment to play baseball for James Madison University in July, Luray High School senior Connor Hilliard officially signed his Division I National Letter of Intent on Wednesday at LHS. The right-handed pitcher, who has topped 90 mph, now becomes the first Bulldog to sign a Division I scholarship for baseball since Marcus Davis (the current Spotswood HS head coach) signed with the Rams of VCU in 2005.
“It’s a pretty good feeling…all things to God….hard work too… a lot goes into it,” Hilliard told PVN after the Nov. 12 signing ceremony. “Everything went right, pretty much.”
The initial interest in Hilliard’s baseball talents remained tempered through his junior year at LHS, where he hit a respectable .391, knocked in 19 RBIs, and recorded two home runs, a triple and four doubles — all team highs for a Bulldog club that struggled at times during the 2024 season. On the mound, the right-hander chalked up 75 strikeouts and allowed 13 walks, while posting two saves and an overall 0.41 ERA. His 4-3 record on the hill came as a result of facing the Bulldogs’ toughest competition.
However, while playing travel ball in the early days of summer…everything would change.
A 92 mph fastball thrown by Hilliard went viral on social media. That’s when JMU really started taking interest. The Dukes would jump straight to the front of the line, ahead of VMI, William & Mary, Longwood, Bridgewater, Eastern Mennonite, and Shenandoah University.
“Thank you to Coach Marlin Ikenberry and staff for their confidence in me and presenting me with the opportunity to play DI baseball while furthering my education at James Madison University,” Hilliard said at the close of his speech before several dozen family and friends at his signing ceremony last week. “Go Dukes!”
The LHS senior acknowledged help he received along the way, like from his coaches wile playing with the Virginia Mavericks from ages 15 to 18.
“I would also like to thank Coach Brad Johnson and Lawrence Brewer of the Virginia Mavericks,” Hilliard told the crowd gathered in the LHS Commons. “Brad was crucial in developing a power point presentation and sending it to my targeted college coaches. He spent hours emailing, texting, and calling coaches non-stop for two weeks after my first offer. Brad is the definition of a selfless coach that does whatever it takes to help his players meet their goals.
“Coach Brewer always made sure I pitched to get the most exposure [in font of] college scouts. He would pitch me against the best teams…,” he continued. “You both emphasized hard work, being a team player, and playing the game the right way. If it wasn’t for Brad and Lawrence helping me navigate the college recruiting process, I would not be here today.”
Hilliard became accustomed to being one of the younger players on many of his youth teams. He was 11, playing with mostly 12 year olds, when his Luray Little League squad went to the 50/70 state championship, but fell short of the title. Last Wednesday, the standout pitcher also gave credit to his coaches from the Rocktown Renegades for his development. Hilliard played for the Renegades from ages 9 to 15.
“I would like to thank Coaches Donnie Ange and Will Zampini of the Rocktown Renegades,” Hilliard said during his Nov. 12 speech. “Donnie and Will helped fuel my love of baseball. They made baseball fun, taught me the game and how to compete no matter who we were playing. Even though I was the youngest player on the team, you never hesitated to pitch me in the biggest game or toughest situations. Looking back, those situations shaped me into the player I am today.”
This past summer, Hilliard played in the Rockingham County Baseball League (RCBL) for the Elkton Blue Sox.
“I appreciate Coach Mike Sutton…Mike was extremely flexible with my travel baseball schedule and allowed me to pitch in the games where college coaches were going to attend. Mike has a true heart for helping guys who want to play at the next level,” Hilliard noted.
Listed at 6′-2″, 195 lbs, Hilliard now joins three other right-handed pitchers among the 10 signees in JMU Baseball’s 2027 recruitment class. Among the 10 incoming freshman recruits, six are from Virginia, two are from New Jersey, and one each from North Carolina and Texas.
“This class has the makings to be one of the best in JMU history,” said Coach Ikenberry. “Our staff has worked extremely hard in developing relationships with this group and identifying the needs that allow us to compete at a high level.”
Now competing in the Division I Sun Belt Conference, Coach Ikenberry believes that Luray’s right-handed, heat-throwing pitcher can have an immediate impact on the Dukes.
“Connor is one of the best pitchers in the state of Virginia from the Shenandoah Valley,” Ikenberry stated on the JMU Baseball website. “Connor has the potential to pitch right away. His fastball has been up to 93 mph. His ability to command multiple pitches for strikes is his best attribute. He has outlier stuff and reminds me of a young Kevin Kelly. He also plays basketball for Luray High School.”
And despite the excitement of this summer’s verbal commitment and last week’s signing in baseball, the basketball season is what is currrently on Hilliard’s mind. With practice already underway and his senior season kicking off in December, Hilliard is excited to go for a third-straight region title and another trip to the state tournament.
It’s also the last season he will officially walk onto a basketball court as a teammate of his childhood friend Matthew Owens, who made his verbal commitment to play basketball at JMU last month. They’ve played baseball, basketball and soccer together growing up. And while both want to make the most of their senior year and feel they have “unfinished business” in the state playoffs, they are also grateful that they both were offered scholarships to play Division I athletics at their “dream school.”
“I’m happy for [Matt]…it’s really exciting,” Hilliard told PVN. “It’s a dream come true for both of us.”
While the focus will remain on finishing his LHS legacy on a solid note, Hilliard paused for a few moments last week to thank those locally who have helped him get to where he’ll be next year.
“Another shout out goes to my Luray High School basketball coaches Matt Huff, Stevie Owens, and Joey Broyles, prior baseball coach Charlie Shepherd, athletic diector Patty Secrist, prior athletic diector Don Ehlers, all of my teachers, support staff, my Luray baseball and basketball teammates, and my Renegade and Maverick family,” Hilliard said after signing his Letter of Intent.
Some of his former coaches, like Brad Johnson (Mavericks), described Hilliard as “one of the hardest-working guys I know,” while Will Zampini (Renegade) reminded the JMU-bound pitcher that’s it’s not always about baseball.
“You were always a joy to coach,” Zampini said. “Keep working hard and keep your heart in the right place.”
He didn’t play any fall ball and JMU has not given him a special training regiment yet — although Hilliard says he has “turned it up a notch” in his training routine. And although he expects to be playing basketball well into March, it won’t be too long before Hilliard’s topping 90mph again on the hill and hopefully leading the Bulldogs through a second postseason to close out his senior campaign.
“I have confidence,” Hilliard said of both the upcoming basketball and baseball seasons.
“It’s a good time to be a Bulldog ain’t it?” PVN asked.
To which Hilliard replied, “It’s always been a good time to be a Bulldog.”
For more information about JMU Baseball,
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