COLLEGE BASEBALL: On eve of Region X tourney, Red Hawks’ Smith named top pitcher

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SMITH

BURLINGTON – Julian Smith was named the Region X Pitcher of the Year, and two other Catawba Valley Commnity College (CVCC) players also won first-team league awards in voting by head baseball coaches.

The Region X team was announced Thursday in Burlington, site of the conference tournament, and joining Smith as first-team picks were third baseman Graham Mitchell and designated hitter

Kryan Russ.

All three players will be honored before their first-round Region X/Southeast District tournament game against Brunswick Community College on Friday. Game time is 4 p.m. at the Burlington Athletic Stadium in Burlington.

“It’s a great feeling,” Smith said in a CVCC press release. “I think this is all just a reflection of the work that many of the guys put in during the fall. I couldn’t have done this without the help of my teammates. (CVCC catcher) Brett Macchia behind the plate did a great job all year.

“With their support and their defensive help behind me, I think they contributed to a big part of me getting both of these acknowledgements.”

MARSHALL

Smith, a 6-foot-4, 192-pound left-handed pitcher from Concord, rewrote CVCC’s pitching records this spring, setting records for single-season strikeouts (124) and career strikeouts (175). He’s currently tied with former CVCC star Cole Whitney for wins in a season with eight.

Smith had team highs this spring for innings pitched (74) and ERA (2.07), and he was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 22.

CVCC head baseball coach Paul Rozzelle called Smith’s selection as Region X’s top pitcher a “no-brainer.”

“He’s shattered records left and right,” Rozzelle said. “I know (CVCC pitching) coach (Kris) Harvey is going to be really proud of that Pitcher of the Year honor for Julian. We are very happy and excited for him.”

Mitchell, a Greenville, S.C. native, also etched his name in CVCC’s record books with a walk-off single on April 18 — recording his 87th career RBI, a school record. He has 95 career RBI, and leads CVCC in RBI (61), home runs (11), batting average (.377), runs scored (52) and walks (34).

RUSS

“Graham Mitchell has had an unbelievable year,” Rozzelle said. “With what he’s done here through his career and obviously this season, it’s well deserved. I’m very proud of his accomplishments and all of the work that he’s done.”

The honor for Mitchell comes on the same day that he announced he will play more college baseball at Presbyterian College.

“It’s a really cool day, especially to be able to share it with guys that have become like brothers to me over the past two years,” Mitchell said. “There are things I won’t ever forget.

“I’m forever thankful for this place, for these guys and for the opportunities I was given here.”

A redshirt freshman from Buford, Ga., Russ erupted in his first year at CVCC, tying Mitchell for the team lead in home runs (11).

“He came out of nowhere this year,” Rozzelle said of Russ. “He did a great job of hitting mistakes. He is solid piece of our line up and order. We are very proud of him.

“He’s worked very hard — both him and Graham — with (CVCC hitting) coach (Colby) Dishmond.”

In 38 games at CVCC, Russ has 30 runs, 34 hits, six doubles and 38 RBI. His .754 slugging percentage leads the team and he is hitting .347 with an on-base percentage of .467.

On Feb. 28, Russ was named the NJCAA’s Player of the Week after tallying two home runs, five RBI and 12 total bases in three games against USC Union.

REGION X/SOUTHEAST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

(Friday through next Tuesday at Burlington Athletic Park)

Friday’s games

G1, 10 a.m. – No. 3 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.) vs. No. 6 Wake Tech
G2, 1 p.m. – No. 2 Patrick Henry vs. No. 7 Bryant & Stratton
G3, 4 p.m. – No. 4 CVCC vs. No. 5 Brunswick
G4, 7 p.m. – No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 8 Southeastern

Saturday’s games

G5, 10 a.m. – Loser G1 vs. Loser G2
G6, 1 p.m. – Loser G3 vs. Loser G4
G7, 4 p.m. – Winner G1 vs. Winner G2
G8, 7 p.m. – Winner G3 vs. Winner G4

Sunday’s games

G9, 10 a.m. – Winner G6 vs. Loser G7
G10, 1 p.m. – Winner G5 vs. Loser G8
G11, 4 p.m. – Winner G7 vs. Winner G8
G12, 7 p.m. – Winner G9 vs. Winner G10

Monday’s games

G13, 3 p.m. – Loser G11 vs. Winner G12
G14, Championship, 7 p.m. – Winner G11 vs. Winner G13

Tuesday’s games

G15, (if neccessary), 1 p.m. – If winner of G11 loses G14

  • Reported by CVCC Sports Information

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