Joe Gaiter: What does baseball mean to you?
Lernix Williams: It may sound cliché, but baseball is my getaway from reality. It’s opportunity for me to take control of the situation at hand and run with it.
Joe Gaiter: Where did you grow up and how was your childhood?
Lernix Williams: I grew up in Nassau, The Bahamas and baseball wasn’t considered a prominent sport on my island when I first started. Often you’d play against your childhood friends who you went to school with and that competitive nature would almost always drive you to the peak of your skill level. Many of the kids I played with are playing college ball just like myself or even in a major league farm system.
Joe Gaiter: When did you start getting in to sports and playing baseball?
Lernix Williams: I didn’t start getting into sports until I was 10 years old , that’s when my pops took me to sign up for the local baseball league.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Paine College?
Lernix Williams: I chose Paine College because Coach Marshall and Coach Ricky we’re willing to give me an opportunity to play and showcase my skill at the collegiate level.
Joe Gaiter: What has been your contribution to your team?
Lernix Williams: My biggest contribution is being the glue for our team. When I say glue, I know I can go to anyone on our roster and let them know when their doing something good or even if they need to work on something to get better without them criticizing me for my input.
Joe Gaiter: Is it hard being a catcher?
Lernix Williams: Being a catcher is extremely tough as each pitcher is different. Not only from a physical standpoint but also a mental one. You can’t approach everyone the same as some people may need a laugh where others need the plain truth.
Joe Gaiter: PC was 8-8 this season before everything was shut down. What went wrong in your opinion?
Lernix Williams: I wouldn’t say something went wrong because we were starting to put things together to become a winning ball team. Every loss we took was a game we knew we could’ve won and we all were man enough to admit our flaws and move onto the game.
Joe Gaiter: The baseball season was cut short due to Covid-19. How did that affect you mentally?
Lernix Williams: It was tough because we were feeling good and getting closer as a team, but when coach said we were done for the year it most definitely hurt in a way that was indescribable.
Joe Gaiter: How has Head Coach Melvin “Kerby” Marshall and the coaching staff helped you improve your baseball IQ?
Lernix Williams: Coach Marshall and Coach Ricky helped me with my baseball IQ as they instilled for me to think two plays ahead on defense and to not be selfish on the offensive end. For example, I come to the plate with a runner on third and there’s no outs. I shouldn’t try to kill the ball, but rather be selective and pick a pitch that I can hit hard someplace to score the run knowing that the infield will be playing in.
