Former Dalton High School baseball and football star and current St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Mitchell Boggs, is partnering with Dalton State’s new athletic department, the school announced last week.

Boggs will become a pioneer member of the Dalton State Athletic Club, which is the fundraising arm of the school’s intercollegiate athletic department.

In addition, he will host a baseball clinic in the fall on behalf of Dalton State Athletics. The clinic will be part of a free program for the public administered by the coaches at Dalton State and sponsored by Optilink. The clinic will take place at “Proformance,” an indoor baseball facility, owned by local businessmen, Bart Rich and Tom Pendley.

“We are really excited that Mitchell has decided to support our department,” said Athletic Director Derek Waugh. “I have known a lot of professional athletes, but I have come into contact with very few as down to earth and humble as Mitchell. Dalton should be really proud to have such a good player and person representing this community in professional baseball.”

“He is also great to have on board because he is a young, future leader of this area and as we grow, we need people like him to continue to support us and believe in our mission to be a transformative program,” Waugh continued. “I have only recently gotten to know him, but I am thoroughly impressed and proud to have him affiliated with our program.”

Boggs says he is excited to be a part of the Dalton State athletic program.

“Dalton has been great to me in so many ways,” he said. “I am excited to give back in one of the endeavors I think will really help the vibrancy of the local college and community.”

“I am really excited about what the athletic department at Dalton State can do for local athletes and for the future of Dalton, and I am more than happy to lend my support to the department,” he continued. “I am very excited about the possibilities both from a local and national perspective.”

Boggs is coming off his most impressive season as a pro, in which he tied for fourth in the National League in appearances and ranked sixth among National League relievers with a 2.21 ERA.

Dalton State is starting men’s basketball, volleyball, tennis, golf, cross country, and cheer in 2013 with numerous other sports, including baseball, to be added in the next two to four years.