Albemarle's Joe Burris will get the chance to pitch and hit when he continues his baseball career in college.

Burris, a rising senior who was an all-district selection as both a pitcher and hitter this spring, has given a verbal commitment to play baseball at Virginia Tech, according to Albemarle baseball coach Jimmy Bibb.

Bibb said colleges had been recruiting the left-handed Burris primarily as a pitcher, until some strong performances at the plate in recent showcase tryouts boosted Burris' stock as a hitter as well.

Burris went 6-2 on the mound for the Patriots this season, with a 1.09 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched. He hit .459 at the plate, with four homers and 30 RBI.