Zach Flattmann has had his fare share of success on the diamond during his high school tenure.

The Cathedral High School senior now hopes to translate that success to the collegiate level.

The 2015 MHSAA Class 1A state champion and two-time state champion runner-up signed baseball scholarship papers Friday with the Mississippi University for Women in the school’s library.

“Hard work pays off,” Flattmann said.

Flattmann has been a mainstay in the middle of the Green Wave lineup for the past five years. The barrel chested catcher started out as the team’s designated-hitter as an eighth grader before moving behind the plate his final four years.

“He’s been the one constant we’ve had over the last five years,” Cathedral baseball coach Craig Beesely said. “Three of the four years he was in high school we competed for a state championship. He’s been good for us, and it’s going to be tough to replace him, not only on the field, but also as a leader.”

The W is located in Columbus and competes as a Division III program. Flattmann will serve as a member of the Owls’ inaugural baseball recruiting class that is coached by Matt Wolfenbarger.

“He’s a great academic student and a terrific kid,” Beesley said. “He’s going to do whatever they ask him to do, whether it’s first base or catcher. He’s going to be a team player and do what they need him to do.”

Flattmann said he’s been working toward Friday’s memorable moment ever since he was 10 years old.

“I decided then that I wanted to do something, I wanted to the next level with baseball,” Flattmann said. “The hard work has paid off for me. And I’m not going to stop working, I’m going to keep going hard at it. It’s going to be a bigger field, a bigger experience, but I’m ready for it.”

The 5-foot-11, 210 pounder is the second member of the Green Wave senior to sign baseball scholarship papers, joining teammate Craig Bradley who signed with Copiah-Lincoln Community during the fall.

“We’ve got six or seven playing (collegiate ball) right now,” Beesley said. “We’ve got kids playing all over the state.”

Flattmann said he’s going to remember the 2015 championship season most, but will cherish all his memories as a Cathedral baseball player.

“The program has been really special to me,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot of hard times (personally), battling certain things, and this program has helped bring out the best in me.”