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PROSPERITY — Kendall Kinard is keeping the baseball tradition alive in his family as he signs to play ball for Erskine College.

The Mid-Carolina High senior has played high school baseball since eighth grade and will continue his position as third baseman at Erskine who recruited him to come to their school.

Kendall’s father played for St. Louis Cardinals after he graduated from Newberry High where gained skills from Coach Bill Harvey, his father Charles Kinard said.

In addition to his father playing ball, Kendall’s uncle Larry Kinard played college ball and his cousin Carlton Kinard played high school baseball.

Kinard began his baseball days early when he played with the Newberry County recreation, his mother Tracy Kinard said. Since then he hasn’t slowed down.

In addition to playing for his high school team, Kinard has also played with the traveling baseball team the Charleston Yankees under his coach’s leadership LeRon Johnson. He also his coach Louie Alexander to thank for his support.

As if signing for a athletic scholarship wasn’t big enough, Kinard is also looking forward to flying out to the Minnesota Twins field where he will be honored this August. He’s looking forward to that, his mother says.

Despite being recognized for his athleticism, his mother said that she has always instilled in him to be “a student first and then an athlete.”