By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

When Jordan Poirrier was drafted by the Atlanta Braves last summer, it had two effects on him.

The first was that it surprised him.

The second was that it inspired him.

&#8220I was surprised when I found out I was drafted,” Poirrier said. &#8220It definitely lifted my mood. It let me know that somebody at the next level saw that I could play. It makes me feel like I can do this well, day in and day out. Just the fact that someone there saw the talent in me, it makes me want to work that much harder for it.”

Poirrier, as a younger Braves draftee, has not yet signed with the organization, and instead is refining his skills at Pensacola Community College, where he both pitches and plays the infield, primarily at second base.

He was selected in the 33rd round of the 2006 summer draft after completing his senior season at Riverside, a season in which he anchored a Rebels rotation that helped secure the Class 2A state championship.

Poirrier finished his Rebel career with a great deal of accolades. He was named first team All-State in each of his junior and senior seasons, a time period in which the right-hander tallied a 14-3 overall win loss record.

Along with fellow All-State first teamers A.J. Delaneuville and Lee Haydel, they led the unit that won then-long time Riverside Coach Steve Stropolo his first state championship.

&#8220I knew how hard he worked,” Poirrier said of Stropolo. &#8220He’d been there quite awhile. I was just really, really happy for him.”

Poirrier said the adjustment from high school to junior college ball was tough on him at first. But as the season went on, he adjusted. Poirrier said that in the final stage of the season, the light seemed to go on for him, and he began to progress as a player.

&#8220I love playing in Florida at that level,” Poirrier said. &#8220The competition is very good. I get to pitch and play at second, get to do different things for them.”

With his college season over, Poirrier now plays for the New Orleans Spice, an elite summer baseball program that rosters high school juniors through college freshmen in the New Orleans metro area.

Poirrier is no stranger to the Spice, as last year he was named tournament MVP during the team’s 2006 run to the Dizzy Dean World Series championship.

&#8220Danny Riehm coaches the team and does a very good job,” Poirrier said. &#8220You get to face some really talented competition.”

Poirrier, who pitches and plays shortstop for the team, believes the Spice can make another run and perhaps repeat as champions in 2007.

&#8220We’ve started out well, we went 3-1 this past weekend against some pretty good teams.”

This summer, he says his focus is to improve his overall strength, as well as his speed. As a middle infielder, he says his speed is not where he’d ideally like it to be. Furthermore, he will heed what his coaches at Pensacola have asked: &#8220Take good care of your arm.”

&#8220I’m able to pitch and hit for them, and I love doing both. I’ve been blessed to be able to do both at the college level. I have to get ready to play at a high level in the fall.”

As far as what he remembers about his days at Riverside, Poirrier said that the relationships he built at the school and the camaraderie with his teammates make up his strongest memories.

&#8220I definitely will always remember the friends I made there,” Poirrier said. &#8220On my last team there, the seniors, many of us had played together since we were seven and eight years old. Everyone on that team, from the seniors to the underclassmen, always played as hard as they could. It meant a lot for us to finally give Riverside a state title.”