2023 Season Preview: Baseball
WEST POINT, Ga. (Feb 3, 2023) – After a 25-20 overall and 20-10 AAC conference record for the Point Skyhawks baseball program in 2022, the team will begin their 2023 campaign on Friday with a single nine inning game against IU Kokomo at the Lake Point Baseball Complex in Emerson, Ga. The Skyhawks will also take on St. Andrew's and Cumberland this Saturday in Emerson, Ga.
Head coach John Tyler is entering his seventh season as the skipper for the Skyhawks and shared some insight into his squad heading into the 2023 season.
" I'm excited for this season, we have a great group of guys. They have been working hard and with this being our last season in the AAC, we're looking to leave it on top."
Coach Tyler will be assisted by four assistant coaches this season. Thomas Nelson is back for his second season with the Skyhawks. Nelson will serve as the pitching coach for the program. Kelton Caldwell, Gene Bowles and Adam Castillo are in their first season with the Skyhawks. Caldwell who comes to Point from Salt Lake Community College. He will serve as the hitting coach and defensive coordinator. Bowles comes to Point from Prince George's Community College (MD). Bowles will coach first base and assist with outfielders. Castillo is a recent graduate of Point and a former player of the Skyhawks. He will be a graduate assistant for the Skyhawks this season and help in all facets of the game.
Top Returning Players (2022 Stats)
Jackson Bush (OF-Theodore, AL) .344 BA/.491 OBP/.648 SLG, 11 2B, 9HR and 38 RBI
Jhamante Woods (INF-Portland, OR) .250 BA/.325 OBP/.519 SLG, 5 2B, 8 HR and 25 RBI
Alex Marquand (C/INF-Columbus, GA) .322 BA/.401 OBP/.458 SLG, 10 2B, 2 HR and 20 RBI
Gene Aberoutte (LHP/RHP-San Bruno, CA) 48.2 IP, 3-2 record, CG, 40 K
Cole Brown (RHP-Flomaton, AL) 78.2 IP, 8-4 record, 2 CG, 74 K
Bailey Mara (LHP-Helena, AL) 9.2 IP, 7 K
Top Newcomers
Kaleb Podger (OF-Columbus, GA) Podger comes to Point from Andrews College where he was a standout at the dish for the Tigers. During the 2021 season, Podger was named Player of the Year in the GCAA and to the NJCAA third team All-American team. Podger not only brings a big stick to the Skyhawks lineup, but brings championship experience as well.
Zavion Anderson (OF- Pensacola, FL) Anderson comes to Point from Wallace Community College-Selma where he played in 38 games, hitting .302, scoring 29 times, swiping six bags, 15 RBI and hitting one HR. Anderson provides not only speed in the outfield and on the basepaths, but provides another stick in the Skyhawks lineup.
Daniel Crabtree (RHP-Marietta, GA) Crabtree comes to Point from Cleveland State Community College where he played the last two seasons. Crabtree threw 109.1 IP, 14-9 record, 2 saves, 4 complete games and 109 strikeouts over his two-year career. Crabtree will look to be a big part of the Skyhawks pitching rotation this season.
Cameron Seiwert (LHP-Jacksonville, FL) Seiwert comes to Point from Pasco-Hernando State Community College. Seiwert logged 48.2 IP on the bump, while having a 4-1 record, 2 saves, 3.14 ERA and 42 K. Seiwert is another arm that looks to be an instrumental part in the Skyhawks pitching rotation in 2023.
Chandler Griggs (RHP-Columbus, GA) Griggs comes to Point from Andrews College. In 20 appearances, Grigg would have a 3-3 record, 6 saves and 26 K in 28 innings of work. Griggs will be looked to in being a potential back-end guy for the Skyhawks this season.
2023 Schedule
The Point Skyhawks baseball program will compete in 47 regular season games starting Friday, February 3, 2023 against IU Kokomo in Emerson, Ga. The Skyhawks will compete against four NAIA Pre-Season Top 25 programs and two programs receiving votes (RV) in #3 Tennessee Wesleyan (Apr 7/8), #5 Faulkner (Mar 14 & Apr 4), #15 Cumberlands (KY) (Feb 10/11), #20 Reinhardt (Feb 24/25), RV William Carey (Mar 8) and RV Milligan (Apr 14/15).
The 47-game schedule will see the Skyhawks play 17 non-conference games. Those 17 games are IU Kokomo (Feb 3), St. Andrew's (Feb 4), Cumberland (Feb 4), Brewton-Parker (Feb 7-away), Cumberlands (3 game series Feb 10/11-home), Talladega (3 game series Feb 17/18-away), Middle Georgia State (Feb 21-home), William Carey (Mar 8-home), Faulkner (Mar 14-home), Mobile (DH-Mar 28-home), Faulkner (Apr 4-away), and Middle Georgia State (Apr 18-away).
AAC Conference Games (30 games)
Feb 24/25 - @ Reinhardt
Mar 3/4 – Bluefield (VA)
Mar 10/11 - @ Truett-McConnell
Mar 17/18 – Bryan (TN)
Mar 24/25 – Kentucky Christian
Mar 31/Apr 1 – Johnson (TN)
Apr 7/8 – Tennessee Wesleyan
Apr 14/15 – Milligan
Apr 21/22 – Union
Apr 27/28 – CIU (SC) SENIOR DAY