Georgia Baseball: Sweet Summer Time

For most students, summertime is about taking a step from everything. For the Georgia baseball team, summer is about getting better and an opportunity to put more work in on the field. Today we check in on some of the players who have been putting in the time and effort this summer.

Though Georgia baseball was without a doubt a very talented and exciting team to watch last season, it definitely came to an end a lot earlier than many had predicted.

In 2019, the Diamond Dawgs finished with a record of 46-17 including a 21-9 conference record but the season came to an end during the Regional round.

It looks like Georgia has used the early elimination in the tournament as motivation to get better.

Fifteen players from the Bulldogs baseball roster are competing in a summer collegiate baseball league across the country, and most of them are doing quite well.

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Over in the Cape Cod league Riley King, who was selected in the 26th round of the draft this year by the Braves, has been showing out — holding a batting avg of .400 while also stacking up to three runs scored and an RBI in just three games played.

King was able to earn All-Star honors in his league and will indeed return to play his Junior year at Georgia.

Moving over to the Coastal Plains league is Garrett Blaylock who is a new addition for the Dawgs. The former St. Johns River State College player now reps the G and is also repping a .362 batting average, four home runs, 16 RBI, and leads the league in doubles.

It sounds like Blaylock will be an excellent piece for the Dawgs and will fit right in.

Showing out over in the Northwoods League is former Furman transfer, Ben Anderson. Being a transfer Anderson had to sit out the 2019 season, but this summer he sports a .301 batting avg, two triples, five doubles, and 11 RBI.

Those stats would be good enough for Anderson to land All-Star honors.

Also playing the Northwoods League is Kaden Fowler who has struggled at the plate a bit with a batting average of .188 but had knocked in four runs and smacked two doubles.

Another Dawg to take home  All-Star honors is Randon Jernigan in the Great Lakes League. Jernigan holds a .333 average with three doubles, one triple, a homer, 11 RBI’s, and 14 stolen bases. While Jernigan didn’t play a ton last year, I think this summers is allowing him to get that step up and potentially be the starting center fielder for the Dawgs next year.

Pitchers Darryn Pasqua and Riley Crean have been showcasing their talents in the Sun Belt league.

Pasqua is 1-0 with a 1.28 ERA and has also pitched a complete game in just two starts. The Georgia pitcher has mowed down 12 batters and only gave one batter a free pass in 14 innings.

Pasqua would also earn All-Star honors like some of his other teammates did over the summer.

While Dad tears it up on the court, Riley Crean makes his mark on the baseball diamond. This summer Crean has gone out on the rubber three different times, pitched five scoreless innings, struck out eight batters, and walked zero of them.

Both Georgia pitching stars Emerson Hancock and Cole Wilcox received an invite to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp.

Before that, Wilcox had been playing in the Cape Cod League where he made two starts going 0-1, walked six batters, ten strikeouts, and stamped a 6.75 ERA.

It is very encouraging as a fan to see players putting in the extra time and effort to improve upon their game.

It is evident that Georgia has a very talented baseball program, and those players are only getting better.

The work ethic that these players have shown as well as their commitment to the G should translate into yet another excellent season for the Dawgs in 2020, and hopefully, one that goes a lot deeper into the NCAA tournament.

It is obvious that the talent is there for Georgia to make their run at a title and the upcoming season very well could be the year that Coach Stricklin and his team have been waiting to happen.