VIDALIA — With graduation less than three weeks away, Vidalia High School senior Caleb Vines knows he has a busy summer ahead of him.

The 18-year-old outfielder for the Vikings recently received a baseball scholarship from Louisiana College in Pineville and said he knows this summer is going to be all about preparing for his first collegiate season and his fall classes.

“I just need to prepare myself as much as I can for both aspects,” he said.

Vines said he did not have the senior season he was hoping for on the diamond, but in the classroom, his senior year saw an All-Star caliber improvement.

“I realized that I had not been taking grades as seriously as I need to. I finally realized it is more important than I had made it,” he said. “I have done way better this year than in the previous years. I made the principal’s list and the honor roll.”

Vines said his American history class has been one of the classes keeping him focused on school.

“Just learning about the past of our country, that is some interesting stuff,” he said.

While playing professional baseball may be his career of choice, Vines said he knows he is going to have to focus on the school aspect of college to help him out later in life.

“If I don’t get to continue my baseball career after college, I need to have something to fall back on,” he said. “It is really important to have a plan.”

Vines said while he isn’t sure what that profession may be, he is thinking about studying agricultural business.

“My dad owns Goldman Equipment, and it is just something that I have been around my entire life,” he said. “I work at the stores during the summers, and it’s just always been something I have enjoyed doing.”

With many schools on his radar, Vines said the choice to go to Louisiana College was an easy one.

“It was the first school I visited and they offered me the scholarship on my first visit,” he said. “I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity. It’s also a relief to know that I am going somewhere, and it is not coming down to the last minute.”

Vines said when he is not in class or playing baseball he can be found doing any number of activities that keep him outdoors.

“I love to hunt and fish and play basketball and football,” he said. “Pretty much anything that keeps me active.”

Before Vines’ journey to college begins, he said he just wants to enjoy the rest of the time he has left at VHS.

“I know I will remember these times for the rest of my life,” he said. “I am happy with what I have been able to do while I was here.”

Caleb Vines is the son of Ken and Delynn Vines.