Knox to play baseball at Linfield College

Grant Knox will continue his baseball career at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the amazing education that Linfield offers and being able to play with the reputation of the Wildcats," Knox said.

Linfield College won the NCAA Division III championship in 2013, and in five of the past 10 years – not including the shortened 2020 season – the Wildcats won the Northwest Conference championship.

McMinnville is in northwest Oregon. Knox was also contemplating Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, and Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, before choosing Linfield College.

"I felt wanted by the coaches, and you can't beat the academics that Linfield offers," he said.

Knox will be a business major.

"I'd like to get into real estate," he said.

"He's been a good pitcher and infielder for us," Fallbrook coach Pat Walker said.

Knox will concentrate on the mound at Linfield College.

"I'm going to be pitching only," he said.

"He's just going to get stronger," Walker said. "He's going to get better and better."

Knox's full name is Ulysses Grant Knox V, and his father is Ulysses Grant Knox IV. They are not related to the former United States president. Knox's father attended El Camino High School in Oceanside but did not play any sports. Knox's mother, Jessica, played softball and swam for Oceanside High School and was also a cheerleader for the Pirates. Knox has a younger sister, Gillyanna, who is a freshman at Fallbrook High School and made the Warriors' field hockey and softball varsity teams during the 2019-2020 seasons.

The lifelong Fallbrook resident was born at Scripps Hospital in San Diego. Knox attended Fallbrook United Methodist School in kindergarten and attended Frazier, Maie Ellis and La Paloma elementary schools before his Potter Junior High School and Fallbrook High School years.

Knox was four when he began playing with Fallbrook Youth Baseball. When he was seven, he joined the Fallbrook Warriors travel team, and he most recently played club baseball for the North County Tide, based in Oceanside.

Six players including Knox made Fallbrook's 2017 varsity team as freshmen and spent four years on the varsity squad.

"I've been playing with the same group of kids on the baseball team since we were 7 years old. I'm glad to have those memories, and I'm glad to have grown up with them," Knox said.

Following his junior season, the Valley League baseball coaches named Knox to the 2019 all-league second team.

This year Knox was the Warriors' Opening Day pitcher, Feb. 25. He threw six innings and received the win in Fallbrook's 12-2 home victory over Santa Fe Christian. Knox allowed five hits and one walk along with two runs, and he struck out nine Eagles batters.

Knox was also a cornerback on Fallbrook High School's freshman football team in 2016. He was also active in the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter.

His favorite Fallbrook High School memory is also his favorite Fallbrook High School baseball memory.

"It would be my sophomore year when our team went to the CIF semifinals," Knox said.

Knox took his campus visit to Linfield College in August 2019 and made the decision to attend the week before Christmas.

"I've worked very hard my whole life and I've kept on the right track, and this is just encouraging me to work harder," Knox said of being able to pitch in college.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].