The Guilford Tech baseball team will open its 2017 baseball season on January 28-29 with two single 9-inning games with Guilford College. This season marks the 10th year of the Titans’ baseball program and its first in the Division II classification of Region X. The Titans return some experience and high impact players from last season as well as welcome some very talented first-year players. After a strong finish in last season’s Region X Division I tournament (3rd place), the Titans will look to contend for its first Region crown in program history.
Leading the way for the Titans this year will be the defending Region X batting champ, sophomore 1st baseman Colin Lipke (Ragsdale). Lipke led all divisions in Region X last year batting .463- a single season Guilford Tech record. Joining Lipke in the middle of the Titans’ lineup will be sophomore outfielder/DH Alex Pickrell, who also finished last season with a flourish and ended the season batting at a .313 clip. Sophomores Michael Garvey (NW Guilford) and Jon Kuebler will anchor the Titan infield up the middle at shortstop and second base. Rounding out the infield for the Titans will be freshman slugger Juan Garcia at 3b. Look for sophomore transfers Nick Williams (E Davidson) and Tyler Price to see significant playing time as well on the left side of the Titan infield. Freshman Tyler Hannifin will also vie for playing time at 2nd base and lefty slugger Caleb Clemmons will fight for time at 1b and DH as well. Speedy freshman Bryce Ballard (E Alamance) and freshman Maxx Taylor will both compete for time in the Titan infield as well this Spring.
The Titans will see 3 new faces roaming the outfield in 2017. Freshmen transfers Cory Everett and Kennedy Hardy will not only be major contributors offensively, but will see a lion’s share of the playing time in centerfield and right field respectively. Freshman power hitter Brandon Bell will man left field for the Titans. Look for sophomores Adam Stephens and Andrew Marlino to see significant time in the Titan outfield and lineup as well. Freshman Nick Goard (S Guilford) will also contend for playing time at any of the outfield positions as well. Freshman lefty hitter Briston Carver (E Alamance) will also look to crack the Titan lineup as well this Spring.
Two more new faces will headline the Titan catching corps this season as well. Freshman Ryan Caveness (S Guilford/UNCG commit) will anchor the Titans behind the plate this Spring. Hard-hitting freshman Tyler Bryant (E Alamance) will contribute significantly not only offensively, but also behind the plate this season as well.
An effective mix of fire and finesse will define the Titan pitching staff in what could be the best overall staff in the history of the program. Freshman right-handed flame-thrower Tanner Routh (Randleman) will headline the Titan staff this Spring. Not to be outdone, sophomore right-hander Chris Kernen (NW Guilford/NC Central commit) will give the Titans another hard throwing weekend starter. Sophomore righty Will Hicks (Providence Grove) and freshman righty Gerritt Merrill will round out the Titan rotation. Freshman lefty Cameron Aufderhar (ORMA/NW Ohio commit) will be a significant contributor out of the Titan bullpen this year, along with steady right-handed freshman Ben White (HP Christian) and crafty sophomore righty side-winder Christian Huggins. Hard-throwing freshman righties Steve Guy (Ledford) and Josh Lemon (W Guilford) will also compete for innings out of the Titan bullpen. Look for sophomore righty Josh Larson to also make his mark out of the Titan pen as well as a mid-week starter. Other contributors to the Titan bullpen include sophomore righty Austin Nixon and freshmen right-handers Noah Gonzalez and Brad Markiewicz. Crafty freshman lefty Ryan Webb will also fight for a role out of the Titan bullpen this season as well. Freshman lefty fire-baller Ed Warren will be called on to slam the door as the Titans’ closer this Spring.
The majority of GTCC’s home games will be played at Ragsdale High School with others being played at Finch Field in Thomasville and New Bridge Bank Park in downtown Greensboro. For all Guilford Tech sports updates (schedules, stats, etc) check the Region X website located at www.region10sports.com.
Courtesy of:
John Barrow
Head Baseball Coach
Guilford Technical Community College
Colin Lipke is solid player and great character kid. That is a unbelievable BA on this level. Has made a commitment for next year. Hope local schools like HPU/UNCG don’t let another local player to lave the Triad. The boy can flat out swing it!
Sorry phone typos: has he committed? Also leave not Ka e the Triad..
Where will the games with GC be this weekend and what times?
There’s plenty of talent in this area. Good luck to G Tech this season.
Games with GC will be played at Guilford College this weekend.
Lipke has not committed yet but has understandably garnered a lot interest. Still waiting for someone to pull the trigger. He can really hit and is also an outstanding student!
Wow. For a community college, GTCC’s got some serious talent.
Has Josh Larson committed anywhere next year?
“Serious talent a community college”? Not sure what that is supposed to mean. Thanks…I guess
If you have been paying attention for the past 10 years or more, then you would realize that community college baseball is filled with extraordinary talent…it’s not intramurals!
Mr. Barrow, my comment wasn’t meant to be a slight. No, I’ll admit I haven’t been paying attention to the community college scene.
I really am surprised (and elated) to find out that you guys pull that type of talent year after year. I watched more than a few of those guys play in high school and figured they’d be playing D1-D2 now. I guess they’re trying to save some money. Can’t blame them in this day and age. I really enjoyed watching most of those guys play.
Thanks for enlightening me. I’ll have to come to a few games.
No worries, Mr. Allen- that is a common misconception about junior college athletics in general- if you can’t play in college then go to junior college. It’s pretty frustrating for all of us, but I think you will find that many of the 2 year programs are just as good and sometimes better than many 4 year college programs. I invite all to come out and take a look for themselves. I think you will be surprised how good it really is. Hope to see you this Spring!
Amen to that– Community colleges like GTCC, Pitt County CC, Lenior County and Louisburg have strong programs here in NC. Brunswick County CC has a great program near the coast. These Community College programs are scouted by the pro scouts and all hold scout days for the pro scouts just like the D1 and D2 schools.
The fact is that most High school players and their parents have never attended a college game and do not realize the talent it takes to play at that level.
I passed out free tickets to my SEG players and parents to attend any HiToms games and none were used.
Parents are sometimes told by the man taking their money that little Johnny is better than he really is. Every Crow thinks his Crow is the blackest and best.
Charlie Pannell
This Region X Conference is a very good and competitive. Many of these GTCC players are former Post 87 players, which has been a State powerhouse the last 2 years! I thought Lipke went to LR?
Phil merkel. No he hasn’t
What is a mid-week starter?
What is Josh Larson’s pitch speed?