Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina senior outfielder Seth Graves has been selected as the 2022 Leggett No. 7 Legacy recipient as chosen by Catamount head coach Bobby Moranda and his coaching staff.
 
With both the honor's namesake – former WCU and Clemson head coach and college baseball Hall of Famer Jack Leggett – and Graves' parents watching the presentation through video on their phones, Moranda made the announcement at the field ahead of Tuesday afternoon's practice. The Catamounts open the 2022 season with a four-game home series against Niagara beginning this Friday, Feb. 18.
 
Graves is the 12th different Catamount to have the Leggett No. 7 Legacy bestowed upon him for a season and the second-consecutive WCU outfielder after teammate Immanuel Wilder wore the number a season ago. He is also the first Catamount senior since 2018 with Cameron Blaquiere to earn recognition as the last three honorees were each juniors.
 
"Seth's nickname within our team is 'SYSTEM'," said Moranda on this year's No. 7 recipient. "He has embodied our TEAM Core Foundation of 'Making The Room Better' in everything while here in Cullowhee. Seth is an outstanding student who has already graduated from WCU and is currently working towards his master's degree here at WCU. He is a grinder both on the field and in life; that is most impressive to witness daily. He will make Coach Leggett proud wearing the #7 jersey this season."
 
Since transferring to WCU from Northern Oklahoma College before the 2020 season, Graves has played in 57 games over the past two years for the Catamounts with 47 starts in the outfield. He has posted a .286 collective batting average while in Cullowhee, bolstered by a .305 average last spring. Graves has 16 extra-base hits among the 44 hits he's collected including 13 doubles, a triple, and two home runs. Adding 36 walks and three HBPs, the Edmond, Okla., native boasts a .428 on-base percentage.
 
Graves is a two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll recipient and was named Academic All-SoCon in 2021. He received the SoCon Commissioner's Medal for his academics in 2019-20.
 
The annual "Leggett No. 7 Legacy" program was introduced by Moranda at the second "Celebration of Catamount Baseball" banquet held in conjunction with the 2011 season-opening weekend. Each year, the WCU coaching staff selects one player that is committed to keeping with the principles and integrity established by the former Catamount skipper during his tenure.
 
"Among the many great past individuals that have influenced the success and the prestige of Western Carolina baseball, Jack Leggett stands out above most. His legacy continues to live on here every day," Moranda said of the Leggett Legacy tradition upon its creation back in 2011. "Every season, we will name one player who exemplifies what it is to be a Catamount baseball player and that deserves to wear the No. 7 jersey to honor the foundation laid by No. 7."
 
A 2001 WCU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and a 2014 selection into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame, Leggett helped shape the future of WCU baseball by recruiting and coaching his three successors in Keith LeClair (1992-97), Rodney Hennon (1998-99) and Todd Raleigh (2000-07). Leggett's three protégés combined to win 567 games and a combined eight SoCon titles in 15 seasons, while also capturing five SoCon Coach of the Year honors.
 
As a collegiate head coach, Leggett won 1,332 career games – 302 of which came at WCU, second all-time in the school's record book – and made 26 NCAA Tournament appearances. He coached over 140 professional baseball signees, nine first-round draft picks, and 25 players who have played in the Major Leagues.
 
Speaking to the team via FaceTime on Tuesday, Leggett wished the Catamounts luck for the upcoming season and reiterated that of all the honors he's received during his career, he remains most grateful for the Leggett No. 7 Legacy at WCU.

To earn the honor of the "Leggett No. 7 Legacy," a Catamount baseball player must have a passion for the game of baseball; show total intensity daily; do more with less; use adversity as preparation for greatness; have an uncommon commitment to his teammates and the standard of T.E.A.M. by displaying A+: T-Toughness, E-Effort, A-Approach, to M-Make it happen.
 
The Catamounts are slated to open the 2022 season with a four-game homestand beginning with a doubleheader on Friday (Feb. 18) against Niagara at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The first pitch of the opener is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live streaming audio available online through CatamountSports.com.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
 
WCU's All-Time Leggett No. 7 Legacy Recipients:
2022: Seth Graves, OF
2021: Immanuel Wilder, OF
2020: Justice Bigbie, INF
2019: Luke Robinson, C
2018: Cameron Blaquiere, INF
2017: Nobu Suzuki, INF
2016: Reece Strong, INF
2015: Danny Bermudez, C
2014: Luke Gragg, UT
2013: Morgan McKinney, LHP
2012: Vance Chavis, LHP
2011: Stephen Notaro, C