As a baseball player, Gil Givens' bat has helped put his high school baseball team in the mix to contend for a state 5A tournament berth.

But as a hockey player, Givens will have the chance of a lifetime.

Givens, a senior at Post Falls High, was one of only 1,200 accepted into the Naval Academy, where he'll play hockey.

"I went there last year and my dad was in the Navy," Givens said. "My grandparents served and I've got an opportunity to play hockey. It's a free education and a good education."

Givens, whose full name is John Gil Givens, began playing hockey when he was 5 years old, competing in the Coeur d'Alene Youth Hockey Association and the Spokane Amateur Youth Hockey Association.

"I had a soccer coach that thought I'd have fun playing hockey," Givens said.

This past winter, Givens played in the American Youth Hockey Association as a forward/center for the Spokane Braves. In 49 games, he had five goals and nine assists.

"During the season, I'd be playing every day," Givens said. "We're traveling every weekend. Hockey consumes the time I'm not playing baseball."

Givens is in his second year on the Post Falls varsity, moving from right field as a junior to left this year.

"It's one of those things where I've always played baseball since I was little," Givens said. "It's kind of my second sport."

His main focus is on his first collegiately.

"I've always wanted to play college hockey," Givens said. "But I also thought it would be great to play baseball too. I love both sports, but college hockey is where I wanted to go."

Givens is currently fourth in the senior class with a 4.116 grade point average, and is taking mostly advanced placement classes.

"During the season, it's really tough," Givens said. "To get home sometimes at 2 a.m. and turn around and go to school and balance all of that with my homework load is definitely difficult. But if you can manage your time well, you can do anything."

Last year, Givens balanced 5 a.m. morning hockey practices, school and baseball.

"He's got an exceptional work ethic," Post Falls baseball coach Dustin Frank said. "After school, he would then attend two-hour baseball workouts and would do his homework to keep his grades up for his A.P. classes. Not very many people, let alone high school students, would be able to do what Gil does on a daily basis."

Givens added his father, John, helped put that work ethic in him. His father was an officer in the Navy and is currently in the reserves.

"He told me he's learned some great things in the Navy," Givens said. "He told me to keep working hard at everything you do and you'll be successful."

"He's the definition of a student-athlete," Frank said. "He is a 4.116 (GPA) that competes in sports practically year round. He is an exceptional hockey player that has competed in national level tournaments and will be very competitive at the level he will be playing at the Naval Academy."

Givens is the leadoff hitter for Post Falls, which is 9-8, 5-6 in the 5A Inland Empire League.

"He's been a huge part of our success," said Frank, who also coached Givens on the Prairie "AA" American Legion baseball team the past two summers. "He had an exceptional year last year (in Legion). By the end of the season, he was our leadoff hitter and ended up batting over .400 with three home runs in the second half of the season."

Frank coached the Post Falls High junior varsity team for four years before becoming varsity coach this season.

"There's a new attitude," Givens said. "In the past few years, there's been some bad attitudes. We're trying to turn it around and make Post Falls baseball something that people want to come out and watch. Everyone wants to work hard to get better."

During practice on Thursday, the team had a 30-minute run outside in the rain.

"It wasn't too bad," Givens said. "But if you're doing it by yourself it's one thing. But when you're running with your friends - it's a lot of fun."

Post Falls has won five straight games in league to move into second place entering the final week of the regular season. Post Falls is at Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday in its final league game.

The top two teams from the Region 1 tournament advance to the state tournament in Boise May 17-19.

"It would mean a lot," said Givens of a possible state bid. "Post Falls baseball has kind of been a laughing stock of the league, so if we could turn it around and get some respect in the league and school - that would be great."

"He is very athletic and extremely dedicated," Frank said. "Even though Gil is extremely athletic, his best asset to a team is his leadership qualities. He is the most respected player on the team because of his hard work, ethics and dedication. This season, Gil has struggled a little bit at the plate, but has never made an excuse or hung his head."

Following his stint in the Navy, Givens wants to become an engineer.

"Personally, I feel blessed to coach a player like Gil," Frank said. "He has definitely made me a better coach and all-around person over the past four years. I know Gil will be successful in whatever he ends up doing because he simply has the character to face adversity and the work ethic that won't allow him to fail."