Former Nansemond River High School standout Gage Williams is finding strength — both mental and physical — in his rehab after his freshman season was cut short due to injury.

After a strong career for the Warriors baseball team, Williams signed to play NCAA Division I baseball at Longwood University. However, his season ended after five games, when a shoulder injury took him down.

Williams underwent partial repair surgery, which put his recovery timeline at between six and seven months.

In his five games, he made five appearances on the mound with four starts. He struck out seven in about nine innings of play. He felt it wasn’t his best effort, but he’s been working hard to make his way back better than ever.

The speed at the Division I level is different, as well as the experience players have. Adjusting to that was different for Williams; he thinks that’s a primary reason he didn’t play as well as he knew he could.

“Being a part of the brotherhood we are creating at Longwood has been amazing,” he said. “My performances this season were not what I was expecting or what I was capable of doing, but as a baseball player, you have to have a strong mindset that not everything is going to go your way, so I have been working hard to get back.”

This injury was the first significant injury Williams has had in his baseball career. However, he has been encouraged by people who have had the surgery and came back better than they were before. His motivation comes from every person and college who felt like he wasn’t good enough to play at a good school or doesn’t think he could get drafted.

“The drive just comes with wanting to prove the doubters wrong,” he said. “I fully believe I’ll be able to do that. With not being able to play the game I grew up to love, I just want to better myself in every aspect of my game as possible.”

At Nansemond River, he was a first team All-District and All-Region. During his senior season, he had an 8-1 record, which included a school record for strikeouts in a season with 103. Williams also helped the Warriors win a state title in 2016, pitching five innings during that game.