Jaguar baseball team adds 11 transfer players
By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer
The transfer portal has been hot over the last couple of years with athletes moving around and finding new homes.
Chris Howell, Augusta University’s baseball coach, has taken advantage of the transfer portal and gained 11 new players for the 2022 baseball season.
“It’s all about getting the right fit here,” Howell said.
This year’s transfer roster is JUCO heavy because of the success Howell has had in the past with JUCO players.
“So, we went and got more of ‘em,” he said.
Howell also said the new players will be able to help out the team in many different ways.
“There’s some guys with some experience which is what we need,” Howell said. “We went out and got some depth behind the plate, we went out and got some pitching.”
As the team gears up and prepares for next spring, Howell says it’s important to see the maturity and experience show in his players.
“You can’t rush growth, but experience plays a big role,” Howell said.
Senior Ben Markiewicz is going into his fourth year for the Jaguars, and he talked about the upcoming season in a positive light.
“Every year is a new beginning for our team, so we are looking forward to a fresh start this season,” said Markiewicz. “I look forward to more than being able to go out there and compete with some of my best friends. I am really excited to see what God has in store for our team this year.”
Markiewicz is eager to playing alongside the transfer players in the spring and is ready to see where the team can go this season with the new talent.
“The coaching staff has done a great job with recruiting a good mix of high school, junior college and transfer players,” he said, “Personally, I am really excited to see how these guys can help us out for the upcoming season.”
Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssummerlin@augusta.edu.
Transfer Kyle Laroche is a catcher who comes to Augusta University from Lawson State Community College in Alabama. At top, Alex Brown shows his pitching form. (photos by Shelbie Summerlin)
