Get to Know the NGU Baseball Roster

The North Greenville University (NGU) baseball season is just around the corner! Get to know the 2019 roster here.

Introduction

This year’s North Greenville University baseball team is filled with young, talented guys that are ready to take their game to the next level. From freshmen to seniors, these Crusader student-athletes come from all over the country and have a variety of skills and playing experience. Get to know a little more about each player on this year’s roster!

Pitching

The North Greenville baseball team is set to open its 2019 season on February 1st. Here is a look at the pitching staff.

Ace: Reese Fowler
The senior right-hander from Spartanburg, South Carolina enters 2019 as NGU’s all-time leader in strikeouts (234) and second in wins (18). Fowler has been named to the All-Conference Carolinas First Team and was an ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team selection following his junior season.

No. 2 Starter: Cam—Ethan Clarke
A redshirt sophomore from Easley, South Carolina Clarke made 13 starts as a freshman and posted a 5-4 record with a 3.93 ERA in 79 innings of work. He struck out 58 batters and walked just 20 en route to being named Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and an ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Third Team member.

No. 3 Starter: Chandler Castleberry
Entering his junior season, Castleberry has made 29 appearances (14 starts) in his two years at NGU, compiling an 8-6 record with four saves and a 4.02 ERA in 119 innings pitched The native of Greenwood, South Carolina has struck out 112 batters while walking 34.

bullpen:
NGU’s bullpen will be led by senior right-hander Jonathan Johnson (0-1, 5.40 ERA in 13 games/two starts), junior righty Braden Hinson (3-2, 5 SV, 3.86 ERA in 27 games), junior lefty Jack Maynard (1-0, 2 SV, 2.45 ERA in 15 games), sophomore righty Tyler Fallaw (2-0, 1 SV, 3 G), and freshman righty Dawson Pratt (1 G).

Catching

One of the most important defensive positions on the baseball field is catcher. The catcher is responsible for stopping wild pitches, catches pop-ups and foul balls and calls plays to prevent runners from successfully stealing bases The NGU Baseball Team has five excellent catchers who are sure to give opponents fits this season.

Joey Thigpen is a sophomore from Georgia who is 6’0” and 195 pounds. He batted .333 last season with one home run and 19 RBIs.

Austin Farnsworth is a junior from South Carolina who is 6’2” and 210 pounds. He batted .303 last season with one home run and 25 RBIs.

Cole Evans is a senior from North Carolina who is 6’3” and 215 pounds. He batted .316 last season with two home runs and 36 RBIs.

Will Jones is a senior from Tennessee who is 6’4” and 220 pounds. He batted .321 last season with four home runs and 40 RBIs.

Drew Jennings is a senior from Kentucky who is 6’1” and 190 pounds. He batted .335 last season with three home runs and 41 RBIs.

Infield

The infield of a baseball diamond is located between the batter’s box and the base path. It typically includes first base, second base, third base, and shortstop. These are the positions of the players who field within the diamond closest to home plate

Outfield

The outfield is traditionally composed of three players, all standing in relatively shallow left, center, and right field. Outfield players must cover a large amount of space, so they are generally a team’s fastest and most athletic defenders.

One of the most important duties of an outfielder is to catch fly balls hit near them. Outfielders need to be able to judge the flight of the ball and track its progress while also running towards the ball at full speed. This can be difficult, as a well-hit fly ball can travel a long way in a short amount of time.

In addition to catching fly balls, outfielders must also be prepared to field ground balls hit their way. They may need to make quick decisions on whether to try for a catch or let the ball roll past them. Outfielders also need to know when they can safely retreat into the outfield grass to avoid being hit by a batted ball

The NGU baseball roster currently has six outfielders: junior Zach Dominguez, sophomore Bryce Hutto, senior Nick Nash, sophomore Jace Powell, senior Connor Reese, and freshman Chase Williams.

Designated Hitter/Utility

Designated hitter/utility (DH/U) is a position in baseball that is primarily reserved for hitters who do not play a position in the field. These players typically do not play in the field at all, but instead focus on batting. DH/Us are used in both professional and amateur baseball

The DH/U can be used in several ways:

-As a designated hitter a player bats in place of the pitcher. This is common in American League Baseball as well as some college and High School leagues.

-As a pinch hitter, a player bats for another player who is already in the game. This is typically done when the pinch hitter is expected to have a better chance of getting a hit than the player they are replacing.

-As a pinch runner a player runs for another player who is already in the game. This is typically done when the pinch runner is faster than the player they are replacing and the team needs speed on the bases.

-As an emergency catcher, a player catches if both the regular catcher and backup catcher are injured or unable to play.

Coaching Staff

NGU Baseball is led by Head Coach Landon Powell. Powell, a former big-league catcher, comes to North Greenville after coaching stops at USC Upstate and Auburn. He has amassed nearly 400 wins in his collegiate coaching career.

Serving as Associate head coach and Pitching Coach is Micah Johnson. Johnson played Collegiate Baseball at Clemson before being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2012. He made his Major League debut with the Sox in 2016 and also spent time with the LA Dodgers and Atlanta Braves organizations.

Hitting Coach Matt Hoglund rounds out the Coaching Staff Hoglund, who played his college ball at NGU, has been with the program since 2013.

Schedule

The North Greenville University baseball schedule has not been announced for the 2021 season. The Crusaders will look to build off of their 16-21 (9-15 in conference) record from last year, when they narrowly missed the conference tournament

Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming season!

Roster

The North Greenville baseball team is made up of 28 athletes from all over the country, representing nine different states. Below is the complete list of this year’s team, separated by position.

Pitchers
-Alec Dolton, Jr.
-Andrew Baker, Jr.
-Austin Shull, So.
-Blake Whitney, Fr.
-Brady Easton, So.
-Chandler Cravey, Fr.
-Dylan Parker, Sr.
-Hunter Doster, Jr.
-Jackson Roberts, Jr.
-Jessep Polk, Jr.
-Johnathan Whitehead, Sr.
-Keaton Yates, So.
-Luke Bolka, Jr.
-Matt Milburn, So

Conclusion

The NGU baseball team is a talented group of young men who are committed to working hard and representing their school with pride. They have a wide range of skills and experience, and they are sure to be a force to be reckoned with on the diamond this season. Get to know the team and cheer them on to success!