It’s a brave new team

Change for the Georgia College & State University Bobcats brings new opportunities for its young players.

The caliber of players that were lost last year, in some eyes, cannot be replaced. Over time, perhaps, new leaders can emerge and unite to guide their team into the record books.

The coaching staff must work hard during the off-season to watch players and convince them to come to GC&SU.

“We hear some names and go on that,” said Kevin Mobley, Bobcats’ assistant coach. “We go out on weekends to high school showcases after hearing a name. We don’t get to see them play a lot. You’ve got to base them on their tools, their arm strength, their power at the plate, and the way they play defense.”

New pitchers joining the staff this year are freshmen Wes Sorrells, Dennis Moon, Jimmy Finley, Chase Shuman, Brandon Durden, Dallas LeMaster, Ash Senn, sophomore Travis Spell, juniors Brett Newton, Tom Kelley, Matt Stubbs and Chris Lawson.

Sorrells graduated from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. where he was named to the All-Northeast Georgia and All-Star Team. He was also a recipient of the Best Pitcher award.

Moon Dennis was red-shirted last season. Moon comes to GC&SU after graduating from Loganville High School in Loganville, Ga. where he was named to the All-Area and All-Walton County teams. He was named the Pitcher of the Year at LHS and was nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award.

Finley was a red-shirted freshman last season at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, Ga.

Shuman graduated from Tattnall County High School in Claxton, Ga. where he was named Most Valuable Player in baseball and football. While there he earned Best Pitcher and Mr. Warrior awards.

Durden graduated with honors from Cook High School in Adel, Ga. There he earned All-State and All-Region honors and was named to the Tift Area Team and Player of the Year. He was also a 34th round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox in the 2002 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

LeMaster comes to GC&SU from Sereven County High School in Sylvania, Ga. There he earned Most Valuable Player and All-Region honors. He was also named to the Southeast All-State team and served as Team Captain during his senior season.

Senn will begin his first season with the Bobcats after earning All-Area honors at Newton County High School in Oxford, Ga. He also earned the Coaches Award and was the team captain.

Spell Transfers to GC&SU after one season at Georgia Southern University where Travis earned Academic All-America honors.

Newton joins the Bobcat pitching staff after transferring from Middle Georgia College. Newton graduated from Augusta Christian School where he was twice named All-Region in baseball and football.

Newton has high expectations to replace some of those key players lost in graduation last year.

“I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how good they were,” said Newton. “They lost a couple of starters last year, I hope that I can fill in one of those spots. I know I’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill.”

Kelley transfers from Middle Georgia College where he joins fellow teammates and current Bobcats Brett Newton, Jose Leger and Matt Nixon after playing in the NJCAA College World Series last season.

Stubbs was named Athlete of the Year at Gordon College in Barnesville Ga. where he played for three seasons.

Lawson joins the Bobcats after an already experienced collegiate career. He has played one season at Clarendon College in Texas and Pasadena City College in California. He played in the Southern California All-Star game for Pasadena.

The coaching staff for the Bobcats has the tough task of deciding on recruits based on limited information about them.

“Sometimes we might only get to see a pitcher once,” said Mobley. “For pitchers, you have to judge their velocity, arm strength and stamina maybe in the one or two times you see them.”

New infielders include freshmen Justin Mills, Tyler Folsom, sophomore Kyle Schisler, juniors John Belcher, Jose Leger and Matt Nixon.

Mills comes to GC&SU after graduating from John Milledge Academy. He was named All-Region three times and he was also a member of the Middle Georgia All-Star team.

Folsom was a red-shirted freshman last season from Glennville, Ga.

Belcher joins the Bobcats after two seasons at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga.

Leger comes to GC&SU after playing two seasons at Middle Georgia College. Leger will more than likely be a starting shortstop or third base, but can play almost any position in the infield. Head coach Steve Mrowka is glad to have such a mobile player in his utility. Leger feels that he can play any position when asked.

“I really don’t mind moving to any position,” said Leger. “I’ve played shortstop my whole life, I feel more comfortable there. But if I had to adapt to a new position, I would do it to help the team.”

Nixon is another graduate from Middle Georgia College where he played two seasons.

New to the outfield this year are freshmen Phillip Rogers, Brent Walker, Adam Bradley and juniors Jamie Langham and J.J. Jones.

Rogers graduated from Loganville High School where he earned the Red Devil Award and Best Defense for baseball.

Bradley and Walker were red-shirted freshmen last year from Conyers, Ga and Register, Ga. respectively.

Langham comes to GC&SU after two seasons at ABAC where he was named to the State All-Tournament Team. He hopes to be the answer to the many questions in replacing a great outfield from last year.

“Hopefully I can come in and provide a little offense, play some solid outfield and steal some bases,” said Langham. “One of the strengths of the team last year was their outfield. There’s always pressure to replace athletes like that, but I look forward to it.”

Jones comes to GC&SU after completing two seasons at Snead State Community College where he led the team in home runs, stolen bases and hits.

Two new catchers in the Bobcats arsenal are sophomore Chris Aeschliman and freshman Nick Waldrip.

Aeschliman joins the Bobcats after playing one season at Western Carolina University.

Waldrip joins the Bobcats after graduating from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. He was named to the All-Northeast Georgia team.

Out of the 38-man roster, there are 25 new players. Tweny-five men who have not been on a team together for even a year, now find
themselves trying to unite for one common goal.

“We started off a little rough,” said Mobley. “I don’t think the team chemistry was there at first. I think the guys started hanging around each other, more and more, now they’re getting along a lot better as the fall progressed.”

The new players are more than willing to help the coaches and teammates maintain a good team atmosphere.

“The main goal of every team is to have fun and a winning season,” said Newton. “Whatever they need me to do, middle relief, starter, closer, I’ll do whatever it takes for the team to get a win.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 24 2003. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry