Darby Parsons shined on the diamond at St. Clair County Community College, but for much of his life he was a multi-sport athlete.

Parsons played on the 1996 and 1997 SC4 baseball teams under coach Rick Smith. The right-handed shortstop, who also filled in on the mound occasionally, was a Third-Team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in 1997.

“On the baseball field, I learned and improved a lot over my two years at SC4,” Parsons said. “Thanks to coach Rick Smith, and many of my teammates especially Dana Duskocy, Ryan Pettit and Damon Topolie.”

The St. Thomas, Ontario, native graduated from Parkside Collegiate Institute in 1996. Prior to coming to SC4, he played junior hockey for the St. Thomas Stars in the Western Junior B Hockey League.

“My time at SC4 was enjoyable and educational both in the classroom and on the baseball field,” Parsons said. “SC4 made for a smooth transition living away from home for the first time. I met a wide variety of people there, many that became good friends.”

After leaving SC4, Parsons attended Saginaw Valley State University, where he continued his baseball career. In 1998, he was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. He graduated with a degree in secondary education, majoring in physics and biology, in 2002.

Not long after, he showed off his skills on the golf course, becoming a member of the Great Lakes Tour from 2004-11.

He has coached in the St. Thomas Men’s Basketball League since 2011 and has been a player in that same league since 2004. He also coached the 2014 St. Thomas Minor Bantam baseball team.

“I still talk today with my team about Darby Parsons,” Smith said. “We worked on drills to get his top hand over and the proper space with his hitting hand.”