Tuscola pitcher headed to RCC
Nov 17, 2025Tuscola senior pitcher Mason Harrell will be able to focus on his game on the field this spring after signing with Rockingham Community College on Wednesday.
“I’m feeling great. I’m working hard to get better. The coach from Rockingham and all the coaches here are helping me,” Harrell said.
The pitcher has been playing baseball since he was four years old. He immediately fell in love with it, and the rest is history.
“It’s always been my main sport. I’ve loved it since I was little,” Harrell said. “I just love hanging out with the boys. I like the friendship and the brotherhood. They might not be my biological family, but they’re still family to me, and it’s just great to have them around and supporting me.”
Tuscola’s Noah Stepp joined the Rockingham program last year and has seen his fastball jump from the mid-80s into the low-90s, Harrell said. He’s hoping the program can help him develop his arm further, as well.
“He focuses on the players, athletically and academically,” Harrell said of Rockingham’s coach. “He makes sure they’re working hard, and he works with the pitchers.”
Harrell got connected with Rockingham by a recruiter, something that is becoming more and more crucial in the ever-changing landscape of collegiate recruiting. Harrell said he was thankful for the support of his recruiter, Coach Ryan Koch at Baseball University of the Blue Ridge.
“He helped me a lot throughout this process, gave me Rockingham’s number, a lot of other coaches’ numbers, and just put a good word out for me,” Harrell said.
Harrell’s parents are thrilled to see their son head on to the next level.
“We’re excited for him, ready for him to conquer the next challenge in life,” said his dad, Brandon Harrell.
“To see it kind of come to fruition, to do this at the next level is exciting,” added his mother, Eliza Harrell.
Over the last few years, Harrell has gotten the chance to make plenty of memories with the Mountaineers. Tuscola has made deep playoff runs and played exciting games against great opponents. He’ll have one more shot at making a run with his teammates this spring.
“It’s been great. Everybody has pushed me to be the best that I can. And nothing beats a nice playoff run with your boys. You get to ride the bus there, ride the bus back and just keep winning games together,” Mason Harrell said.
It’s also been a time for his parents to make memories, as they’ve watched the senior travel across the state and the region for games.
“Just watching him grow up and learn as a player, get better, learn how to pitch, and being on the big stage of some state playoffs, going deep in the playoffs, and pitching that’s been exciting, and we’re just ready to see him continue to play,” said Eliza Harrell.
His parents were also excited by the proximity, adding that they’ll try to make it to as many games as life allows.
Harrell plans on majoring in accounting and finance at Rockingham Community College.
“I want to do something in the mathematical world, statistical world, something like that,” Harrell said.
~Story by Aarik Long/The (Waynesville, N.C.) Mountaineer
https://www.themountaineer.com/sports/senior-mountaineer-pitcher-headed-to-rockingham-college/article_fd245794-80ff-4821-a1ed-da1d5bbac1bc.html