Aron Crumb’s entry into baseball began when his grandfather gave him his first glove.

This fall, the Roanoke Rapids High School outfielder and pitcher will be a part of history as he becomes a member of the inaugural William Peace University baseball team, the Raleigh college’s first team since becoming a coed school two years ago.

Today, he signed his letter of intent to play with the Pacers, which will compete in the USA South Conference in Division III ball.

For Crumb, the son of Jimmy and Terry Crumb, the journey only fuels his passion for baseball, which began at age 5 with T-ball.

“What’s not to like about it?” He said after the signing. “I like the atmosphere, the lights, a lot of things. Really my granddad influenced me.”

The signing was the culmination of the hard work he and his family put into the game. “It was really just having heart and working hard. You have to work hard to get your goals in life, playing legion ball and having a good father who practiced with me.”

Roanoke Rapids baseball coach Mark Snead said he was proud of Crumb’s accomplishment. “He has such a love for the game of baseball. Everything you ask him, you can see him listening and taking heed.”

Named all-conference last year meant other coaches saw what he could do, Snead said, and recognized that he was one of the top players in the conference.

Crumb will go into Peace trying out for pitcher and outfield and will take whatever position he is assigned.

“I think it will be a good opportunity,” his father said. “Being it’s their very first team he’ll have a good opportunity to play. The others have 40 to 50 kids. He still has to earn his spot but he knows how to work hard.”

His father has served as his coach and always made time to help him, Crumb said. His sister, Brandi, was a big influence. “She would throw the ball with me. Her and my grandfather — Bob Faucett — were big influences on me.”

The Pacers are out to win in their in their first season. Crumb said coach Chris Duty, “is trying to get together as many good ball players as he can. He knows it’s going to be rough around the edges. He intends to win with what we’ve got.”

What Peace will be getting, Snead said, is a player who has helped rally the Yellow Jackets in several games, hitting a grand slam against Bunn in extra innings while pitching four shut-out innings and pitching a one-hit shut-out against Northern Vance.

Crumb plans to major in physical education or history and hopes to become a baseball coach.