Wise, VA - UVa-Wise senior Brad Robbins has been nothing short of amazing since coming to the campus in the fall of 2006. The two sport athlete was an All Mid-South selection at quarterback and has twice been named to the All Appalachian Athletic Conference baseball team.
Entering 2010, Robbins held career records for rbi, home runs, and extra base hits. Meanwhile, he held single season records for batting average, slugging percentage, hits, rbi, and on base percentage. The slugger has continued his onslaught on the record book this spring. Earlier this year, Robbins picked up his 53rd double breaking the career doubles record previously held by Steve Tyler. Last Saturday, Robbins laced a pitch down the right field line for a two base hit. The hit was the 233rd of his career making him the new all time hits leader at UVa-Wise. As a memorable career comes to a close it is time to reflect on the athletic career of UVa-Wise's most accomplished hitter.
At nearby Powell Valley High School, Robbins had a memorable senior season in both football and baseball. The two sport star led his high school to the state championship game in football while aiding the school to a state final four appearance in baseball.
On the football field, Robbins earned all district, all region, and all state acclaim as the Vikings won district and regional titles before falling 20-13 in the state championship game. In the spring, Robbins hit over .400 at the plate while splitting time between pitching and playing first base.
On the mound, Robbins started and finished all ten games he started that season, highlighting the run were three consecutive elimination game starts by Robbins in the playoffs. The three game run was capped by a 183 pitch performance in a win over Glenvar in the state quarterfinals. For his efforts, Robbins earned a spot on the all state team and a two sport opportunity at Western Carolina University.
After red-shirting at Western Carolina, Robbins returned home to Southwest Virginia and the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Last season, Robbins led an impressive offensive attack on the football field. As a passer, the 6'3 Robbins averaged 276 yards throwing per game, completed 56% of his passes, and threw for over 3,000 yards on the season. Robbins was recognized as a first team All-Mid South Selection for his grid iron season.
In Baseball, Robbins made his impact immediately. As the team's designated hitter Robbins led the nation in hitting for much of his freshman season in 2007. He ended up finishing second in the race as he ended the season hitting at a .479 clip shattering the old single season average record at UVa-Wise. Equally as impressive, Robbins slugging percentage was a whopping .923, also a new UVa-Wise single season record. Robbins earned All Appalachian Athletic Conference and All Region XII honors that season.
The following year, he was selected as a pre-season All American by the NAIA. The 2008 season saw Robbins add two more single season record to his resume; Robbins lined 78 hits, 32 of which went for extra bases to add those records to an already impressive list. As Robbins career progressed into his junior season records continued to fall, Robbins entered the 2009 season just three home runs behind Josh Scarbrough for the career record in home runs.
In one of the better days of his collegiate career Robbins broke the record on March 20th, 2009. The Highland Cavaliers were at Bryan College for a double header on that day and Robbins who had hit just one home run on the season to that point put on an offensive display. He belted two home runs in game one to tie the record as part of a five rbi game, the then junior broke the record in game two of the double header with another home run. On the day, Robbins went 4-7 with three home runs and seven rbi.
Later that year, Robbins broke the single season rbi record, he finished the season with 64 rbi, a record previously held by Steve Tyler. This year the records have continued to fall as Robbins has broken both the doubles and hits record. In May, Brad Robbins will graduate with a degree in business administration, and he will leave UVa-Wise as the most accomplished hitter to ever play at the university.
