GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – For today’s Pepsi Sports Spotlight of the week, we are introducing you to an all-star pitcher from JH Rose High School, who dreams of one day reaching the big leagues.

JH Rose High School sophomore and pitcher, Aiden Coates is a true asset to the school’s baseball team, according to his coach, Ronald Vincent. Coates, like many young, driven athletes, discovered his love for the game at a young age.

“When I started playing Little League, I started playing when I was 9 years old and I’ve been playing ever since then. I started in Small Fry and then Tball and all that but little league is really where I fell in love. I had a lot of great coaches, a lot of great teammates, and thats where I really fell in love with baseball,” Coates said.

Vincent has been coaching for around 50 years, so he knows talent when he sees it. For Coates, Vincent says it comes down to a desire to be the best.

“He is such a competitor and very athletic and plays hard. He likes to win and he does whatever he needs to do to get better every day,” Vincent said.

Coates says even on tough days, it is no match for the motivation he has to keep pushing forward. He says it helps that he has such great teammates.

“The love of the game. When I go out there it’s where I can kind of be free, you know what I mean, be free from all the drama outside the field. When I’m out there, I’m out there with my boys and it’s like a family. It’s great just being out there, it’s a lot of fun,” Coates said.

Coach Vincent recognizes Coates’ drive to be well-rounded, saying he takes his studies just as seriously as baseball.

“He knows what’s right and wrong, he does every day, he goes to his classes, he does his schoolwork like he is supposed to be doing,” Vincent said.

Coates says he has his dad to thank for that. He says his dad has been his biggest inspiration and continues to be, even with his bigger goals.

“To make it to the next level, play D1 baseball, be a pitcher at the next level, and even further than that, the major league and play a lot more baseball,” Coates said.

Coach Vincent says Coates is a leader and motivates the rest of the team with his actions.

Coates starts on JV this year and hoping he is moved up to varsity for playoffs or even in the middle of the season but says he is looking forward to Rose baseball.