Drew Candlin was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches 5-A All-State team for 2003 becoming the 21st Tiger baseball player to be named all-state under Coach David Tidwell since 1986. Candlin was a 3-time first team all-district performer and later played at Temple College and Columbus State where he was all-conference for two years in 2006-07. Warren Drew Candlin was born in Columbus GA on Nov. 12, 1984. Drew’s military family (his parents, Richard and Sandy Nieberding, and younger brother, John) moved frequently as he attended first grade in Columbus GA, grades 2-4 in Hawaii, and grades 5-8 in West Point NY before moving to Belton for grades 9-12. His organized youth baseball career began in Hawaii at the age of 8 and was highlighted by the state championship won by his Marlboro NY Babe Ruth League team in 1997. He also played basketball as a youth (and on the Tiger freshman basketball team in 2000) before concentrating on baseball after his freshman year. Candlin graduated in the top 10% of his class from BHS in 2003. Drew played 2B on the Tiger Freshman baseball team in 2000 and was moved up to the varsity for the playoffs as the Tiger varsity finished the season at 21-12 and won three playoff series before losing in the regional semi-finals. He also played summer ball for the Tigers following the spring seasons of 2000, 2001 & 2002. Drew started his soph year of 2001 on the Tiger JV team but was moved to the varsity as district play began. He was named first team 17-4A all- district at 1B after hitting .526 (10 for 19) in seven district games and finished the year at .340. Belton beat Magnolia in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Little Cypress-Mauriceville in the Area and finished the year at 19-11. In Drew’s junior year of 2002, he hit .321 with 4 HRs and 44 RBIs. He was again a first team 17-4A all-district selection at 1B as the Tigers finished the year at 27-16 beating Magnolia, Port Neches Grove and Lumberton in the playoffs before losing to Houston Forest Brook in the regional finals. As a 6'1" & 180lb senior 3B in 2003, Candlin hit .438 with 39 hits and 31 RBIs and only 4 strikeouts. The Tigers finished the year at 17-16 beating Leander in the first round of the playoffs before losing to The Woodlands in the second round. Drew was named team MVP and won the Big Stick and the Tiger Legacy awards. He was named first team all-district (13-5A) for the third consecutive year. Candlin was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches 5-A all-state team and was honorable mention on the 5-A all-state team named by the Texas Sportswriters Association. He became only the 6th Tiger (with Pat Bishop, Bry Ewan, Kyle Tidwell, Rocky Allen and Greg Hughes) to be named to the 5A all-state team (Belton was in 5A in 1997 & 1998 and in 2003). Candlin finished his 4-year Belton career with 101 hits (3rd in school history) and 76 RBIs. Drew Candlin and Tiger volleyball player Stefanie Douglas were inducted into the Belton High School Athletic Wall of Honor at halftime of the first home football game in 2003. Drew became the 21st baseball player under Coach David Tidwell to be added to the Wall since 1986. Candlin was recruited by Baylor University, Blinn College and Temple College and signed with Temple College. He hit .331 with 35 RBIs for TC as a freshman in 2004 and led the Leopards as a soph at .333 with 6 HRs (3 grand slams) & 54 RBIs in 2005 as Temple lost in the regional to eventual national champion NM J.C. Candlin hit .377 with 9 HRs & 53 RBIs as a Jr in 2006 at Columbus State in GA and hit .334 with 11 HRs and 61 RBIs as a senior in 2007. He was All Peach Belt Conference & 1st team All South Atlantic Regional in 2006 & 2007. As a Sr in 2007 Candlin played in the Div II World Series with Columbus State finishing as the runner-up to national champion, Tampa U.