One of Fayette's

top high school baseball players in 2003 has spent much of the past two

days wearing the colors of perhaps the most recognized professional sports

team in the United States, and it wasn't because he bought a cap and T-shirt

at a sporting goods store.

Tim Battle

has a decision to make. Having already signed a letter of intent to continue

his baseball career on the collegiate level at Middle Georgia, the McIntosh

graduate saw a new wrinkle thrown into his plans late Tuesday when the

New York Yankees made him the 94th pick of the 2003 amateur draft, taking

him near the end of the third round.

Now he has

less than two weeks to determine if he will accept a signing bonus likely

to be in the six-figure range and report to the Yankees' Gulf Coast League

team in Florida and begin his professional career.

As is often

the case with high school prospects, Battle got feelers all season long

from several teams but wound up going to a team he wasn't expecting. The

Yankees did not approach him or even give any indication they were watching

him until a representative came to see McIntosh play Wayne County in the

first round of the state playoffs.

But after a

workout last Thursday at Turner Field with about 50 other Braves prospects,

Battle and his parents drove to Tampa Friday so he could participate in

two separate Yankees workouts one by himself and another with four other

players. It was there that he found out how serious the team was.

Battle had

great workouts in Atlanta and Tampa, according to McIntosh head baseball

coach Toby Black. He hit a number of balls out of the park and had an

exceptional time in the 40-yard dash, Black said.

The 6-foot-2

Battle, who patrolled center field for McIntosh, hit .403 as a senior

with nine home runs, 22 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He is the son of Tim

and Loretta Battle and has a younger sister, Racquel.

His family

is understandably enthusiastic about his opportunities, as is Black. "I'm

ecstatic," said the McIntosh coach, who got the call from his former

player Tuesday afternoon while working outside at his home.

Battle is to

report June 19 in Tampa for Gulf Coast League play, should he decide to

sign with the Yankees. Negotiations were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.

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