MOULTRIE —
Barring an unexpectedly attractive offer from the Cleveland Indians, Cole Pitts will move to Atlanta on Aug. 18, to begin his collegiate baseball career at Georgia Tech.
The reigning Region 1-AAAAA Player of the Year signed with Georgia Tech last November and proceeded to have an outstanding senior season at Colquitt County High.
Some projections had him going in the top five rounds of the major league baseball draft in June, but he did not hear his named called until the 32nd round when the Indians picked him.
The Indians might have felt his asking price would be too high and/or that he would honor his commitment to Georgia Tech.
There is still a chance Cleveland could make an offer that would make the 6-foot-6, 220-pounder forgo a chance to pitch for the Yellow Jackets.
The Indians area scout and cross-checker recently saw a Middle Georgia Titans game in which Pitts pitched six innings, giving up three hits and striking out 11.
Pitts said the Indians director of scouting is expected to see him pitch in Panama City, Fla.
And while he would not rule out a last-minute change of heart, he sounds ready to play for Danny Hall and the Yellow Jackets.
“Georgia Tech is a dream come true,” Pitts said Wednesday.
Colquitt County baseball coach Tony Kirkland will be pleased at whatever decision his right-hander makes, but likes the idea of Pitts playing at Tech.
“I think it’s a good decision,” Kirkland said. “He’s just going to continue to grow up and get strong.
“He is very far away from being a finished product.”
Pitts was coming off a junior season in which he went 5-3 with a 2.57 ERA for the 13-12 when he committed to Georgia Tech last July.
And his 2010 summer was even better.
After tweaking his delivery under the tutelage of Packers pitching coach Zach Grage, Pitts increased the velocity on his fastball from 89 to 93 mph.
Then he went to Oklahoma with Junior Team Georgia to play in the Junior Sunbelt Classic and won the tournament’s Most Valuable Pitcher Award.
He signed last fall and did nothing to give Georgia Tech any reason to question its decision.
All Pitts did last spring was go 9-2 with a 1.88 ERA for the Packers while striking out 98 batters in 74 1/3 innings.
While leading the Packers to the state semifinals, he was 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in the postseason and saved one of his best outings for the first game of the state semifinal series against Parkview.
Pitts held the eventual state champion Panthers to just three hits in a 3-0 Colquitt County victory.
He went 16-8 in his high school career, including 14-5 the last two seasons. Colquitt County struggled his first three years, but both he and the program had breakout seasons in 2011.
And Pitts proved he was more than just a pitcher.
He played first base when not on the mound and led the Packers in hitting with a .391 average last season and hit a school-record 11 home runs. He also drove in a team-leading 39 runs.
Pitts hit 18 home runs and drove in 88 runs during his career. Over the last three seasons, his lowest batting average was .364.
“This is one coach who will call Danny Hall and tell him, ‘You’ll be missing out if you don’t first a first baseman’s glove on his hand and let him hit,’” Kirkland said.
For his part, Pitts said he wouldn’t mind hitting, but his goal is to become a weekday starter for the Yellow Jackets.
“Or maybe a weekend starter,” he added.
Georgia Tech primarily plays its Atlantic Coast Conference games on the weekend.
Pitts will begin working on a degree in management and will join his new teammates in the September and October practices and scrimmages in preparation for the 2012 season.
Georgia Tech was 42-21 last year and fell in the East Regionals to Mississippi State on June 5.
And there is plenty to optimistic about.
Pitts will be joining a team that last season used 17 freshmen, including five who started in East Regional final.
Despite its youth, Georgia Tech tied Virginia for the regular-season ACC championship with a 22-8 record.
Local Sports
Related Photos
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Colquitt County’s Cole Pitts, the Region 1-AAAAA Player of the Year, appears headed for Georgia Tech despite continued interest from the Cleveland Indians. Connie Southwell
Discussion
Pitts ready to start Georgia Tech career
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