All-American Steven Williams signs with Auburn

ALBANY — Dressed in khakis and a dark navy blue polo shirt, Steven Williams seemed a little uncomfortable for his signing ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Deerfield-Windsor.

Perhaps Williams would have felt more comfortable wearing his chest protector, his shin guards and a catcher’s mask.

The soft-spoken senior honored the commitment he made to Auburn two years ago when he signed a letter-of-intent to play baseball collegiately for the Tigers in the Deerfield-Windsor media center. Williams’ signing comes two years and a day after he committed.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders,” Williams said. “It’s been a long process, and now that it’s finally over with, it’s just like really big for me and my family. It’s a dream come true.”

The senior’s signing is just another in a long list of accomplishments which include playing for the 15U Team USA National Baseball Team during the summer of 2014 to getting to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego this past August.

He has helped Deerfield-Windsor to back-to-back state championships and was named the Albany Herald’s Ray Knight Player of the Year after his junior season where he batted .524 with 16 doubles, three triples, 11 homers and 49 RBIs.

Perfect Game recently released its final prospect rankings for the Class of 2017 and Williams is the top catching prospect in Georgia. He is ranked second nationally behind MJ Melendez of Westminster (Fla.) Christian in Miami.

While catching is his primary position, he has played third-base, pitched and played in the outfield at Deerfield-Windsor. He said Auburn coaches have told him that in addition to catching, playing first-base and outfield are possibilities in college.

Williams could potentially be a high draft selection in next June’s Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. But he’ll reserve that talk for another day.

“I just try to stay focused on what I can control,” Williams said. “And the draft is one of those things that I just try to focus on getting better every day as a player.”

Williams doesn’t say much and isn’t brash or cocky. He said he’d rather lead by example.

Deerfield-Windsor coach Jonathan Davis, who recently finished his second season coaching the Knights, told the fans in attendance that he remembers the first time he met the standout.

“He didn’t talk,” Davis said. “I don’t think he talked to me for the first three months.”

Williams is one of the biggest signees for Auburn coach Butch Thompson, who is entering his second season.

But Davis said Williams will do well in whichever path he chooses.

“He’s very focused and determined,” Davis said. “He’s very busy, but he does a great job of balancing his life.”