Shortstop Lodise shines for Jaguar baseball in rookie season
By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer
When Kyle Lodise first stepped onto the field for the Augusta University baseball team, no one could have predicted the starting freshman shortstop would step up in the way he has for the Jaguars this season.
Before committing to Augusta, Lodise had to weigh his options, which consisted of many offers, including all the Peach Belt Conference schools, and see where he could call home for the next four years.
“My ultimate goal of mine was to find a school where I felt that I was wanted,” said Lodise, who along with his teammates will open against host Georgia Southwestern in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Friday, May 5. “I feel like that’s kinda crucial. You don’t wanna go to a school where you’re not really needed nor wanted.”
The Brunswick High School graduate, who was named PBC freshman of the year, says the care and interest that Augusta University Coach Chris Howell showed him during his visit and recruiting process helped confirm his decision to become a Jaguar.
Last August, before the fall semester started, Lodise says a couple of the upperclassmen on the team helped prepare him for what was to come.
“The first person I met here was Jordan Wilkie, and if you know him, you know how down-to-earth he is,” said Lodise. “Then I met Pat (Galvin) and he really talked to me about what to expect here and just helped slow things down so when the semester started it wasn’t like a hundred things getting thrown at me.”
As a true freshman starter for the Jaguars, Lodise says he’s extremely grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m just excited I get to help the team. Even as a freshman, I think I can help with the energy in the dugout and our demeanor in how we do the day-to-day things.”
Lodise finished the regular season with a .325 batting average, the third-highest on the team. He had 66 hits on the season consisting of eight doubles and seven home runs. Lodise led the team in runs with 54 and was second in RBIs with 34. He also stole 20 bases, only getting thrown out on a steal attempt a single time.
Howell says that although Lodise is young, he already brings a lot of positives to the table for the Jaguars.
“As a player, Kyle brings a high level of baseball IQ,” said Howell. “He understands the game and is very aggressive. Lodise has high energy and enjoys competing at a high level. There is an internal push to be the best that separates him from other players. As a person, Kyle is hungry to help and learn every day, a great teammate that asks questions and is eager to learn.”
Assistant Coach John Friday says Lodise is a talented ball player who is a pleasure to be around.
“Kyle is a really good player,” said Friday. “He came in and didn’t really miss a beat. He was the starting shortstop from day one. He has really good energy every single day and comes to the ballpark in a good mood. He’s fun to be around, fun to coach.”
Now that the regular season is over and the Jaguars are preparing for the conference tournament, Lodise gives credit to his go-to teammates he could rely on during the season for helping him along the way.
“Trevor Maddox is one of those guys that you can sit down and talk to about what you’re feeling, what’s pressing you, just anything bothering you,” said Lodise. “I talk to Mike Morrison a good bit. He’s just a funny guy, so if you’re upset it’s kinda hard to stay in a bad mood when you’re around him, and Harry (Harrison Aulds) doesn’t let too much affect him so I’m trying to be a little more like that.”
In his first year as a Jaguar, Lodise made some pretty exciting memories, but there were two games this season that he really reminisced about.
“I think the biggest game was the North Greenville win, as we beat them 12-4 in a midweek, and it was just electric,” said Lodise. “The walk-off against Southwestern, that was our first conference win then we end up winning the series, that was fun.”
Once the season comes to a close, Lodise will spend his summer in Vermont playing in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League with the Vermont Lake Monsters under coach Pete Wilk.
“I’m really excited because it’s a lot of games, like 60 games before playoffs, so it’s like another full season,” said Lodise. “You get to play against all types of players. It’s just stepping out of what you’re comfortable with and I think that helps you grow.”
The FCBL is an invite-only league, so Lodise had to market himself all of last semester until he was eventually accepted onto the team.
“There’s a whole process of sending videos, sending a resume, the whole fall was dedicated to that,” said Lodise. “I finally got an answer in December that I was on the team so that was a big relief because I needed to know where I was going to play this summer.”
Lodise will have a few weeks off after the spring semester before his report date in Vermont.
“I’ll be back home for two weeks, take a little bit off, decompress, and then report date is around the end of May, so it’s a pretty quick turnaround,” said Lodise. “Couple days of practice, just getting a feel for the team, then we play May 24.”
Friday says playing summer ball is a great decision for Lodise.
“He’s gonna go play summer ball this year in a really respected league up north so he can mature as a player,” Friday said.
Next season, Lodise says a lot of great things are coming to Augusta.
“A lot of people are starting to invest in us, and the more we can continue to grow within ourselves, it’s gonna be easier for the community to get behind us and support us,” said Lodise. “A lot of our lineup is returning, I think that’s gonna be a really solid returning crew to build off of, and everybody knows now what we looked like this year and what to expect. I think next year we could do a lot of crazy things here.”
According to Howell, Lodise’s future is bright at Augusta, and he is excited to see him grow.
“He has had a big impact as a freshman for the team and in the league,” said Howell. “The sky is the limit for Kyle, and I look forward to watching him develop as a person and a player.”
Lodise has introduced a new level of play to Jaguar baseball, and throughout the rest of his time here at Augusta, will build a long-lasting impact on the program.
Lodise and the Jaguars are heading to Americus this weekend to face Georgia Southwestern in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. AU enters with a 25-22 record, while the Hurricanes are 29-17. The Jags will be playing in their first conference tournament since 2016. Augusta beat the Hurricanes twice in a three-game series in Augusta in February.
Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssumerlin@augusta.edu.
Kyle Lodise has batted leadoff and played shortstop while helping AU to its first Peach Belt Tournament appearance since 2016. At the top of the page, Lodise shows his form at the plate that has led to a .325 average and a team-leading 54 runs scored and 34 RBI. He’s also 20-of-21 in stolen base attempts. (photos by Shelbie Summerlin)
Kyle Lodise makes a routine play at shortstop of the Jaguars, who take a 25-22 record into the Peach Belt Tournament with a date against host and top-seeded Georgia Southwestern at 6 p.m on Friday, May 5. (photo by Shelbie Summerlin)
