Carson-Newman Baseball: Outfielders Preview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final in a three-part series that analyzes the 2015 Carson-Newman baseball roster. Today's feature focuses on the outfield with senior outfielder Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.).
VIDEO: Cody Fox Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final in a three-part series that analyzes the 2015 Carson-Newman baseball roster. Today's feature focuses on the outfield with senior outfielder Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.).
"I feel like we have gotten a lot better since last year," Fox said. "Our senior leadership is coming up. Joe Tipton moved to the outfield again. I feel like as a whole we'll be better."
Fox missed time last year with a leg injury, but started 38 games to finish second on the team in home runs with five, total bases with 69. His .280 batting average was third on the roster. Fox homered in each game of the Lincoln Memorial series. He had a seven-game hitting streak to start the month of April and had 11 multi-hit games, third-most on the roster. The senior expects to be the starting rightfielder.
"I've cut back on the weight training for myself," Fox said. "Not as much heavy lifting this year so I hope to stay healthy."
In centerfield, the Eagles will have a new starter to replace Evan Kirkpatrick who hit .258 with nine doubles and 18 RBI in 2014. Sophomore Ryan Addington (Cincinnati, Ohio) takes over after playing in 16 games last season, mostly as a defensive substitute. Addington expects to be a table setter at the bottom of the lineup with speed and the ability to make contact.
"He's been working on his situational bunting and stuff," Fox said. "He's fast as lightning so he is going to cover a lot of ground out there for us."
After spending last season as a designated hitter, first basemen or fill-in outfielder junior Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) looks to be the starting leftfielder for head coach Tom Griffin's group. Tipton started 43 games a season ago. The lefthanded bat finished second on the squad with 44 hits and 18 walks while finished third in RBI at 29, total bases with 64 and doubles with 10. Tipton had 13 multi-hit games a season ago and six multi-RBI contests.
Two newcomers expect to vie for time in the outfield in transfer Mitch Trzeciak (Charlotte, Mich.) and freshman Brendan Campbell (Yardley, Penn.).
Trzeciak joins the Eagles after spending the last two years at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. In his final season as a Mastodon, Trzeciak hit .250 while not committing an error in the field.
Campbell was a first team All-SOL team member a season ago after hitting .455 at Pennsbury High School.
Stay tuned Wednesday as the South Atlantic Conference releases the preseason coaches poll and All-SAC teams.
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