Vikings to Add 18 Newcomers to Baseball Roster in 2011-12

ROME, Ga. - Berry College baseball coach David Beasley announced today that 18 student-athletes have declared their intention to enroll at Berry and play for the baseball team beginning in the fall of 2011. The list includes 16 freshmen, plus one sophomore and one junior in academic standing.

Five of the student-athletes are pitchers, including two who also play another position. Mitch Cohen (Alpharetta, Ga./Chattahoochee HS) is a lefthander, while Michael Gwin (Adairsville, Ga./Adairsville HS), Kevin Scott (Newnan, Ga./Newnan HS), Braxton Teal (Columbia, Tenn./Spring Hill HS) and Tanner Warren (Ochlocknee, Ga./Thomasville HS) are righthanders. Gwin is also an infielder, while Scott doubles as an outfielder.

Catchers Adam Seewoester (Acworth, Ga./Kell HS), who also plays third base, and Nick Stidham (Lilburn, Ga./Providence Christian Academy) will join that group in the Vikings' battery.

Six other infielders other than Gwin and Seewoester join the group of newcomers. That list includes middle infielders Alex Forsyth (Cartersville, Ga./Woodland HS/Snead State CC) and Jake Kennedy (Cumming, Ga./Lambert HS), first basemen Matt Pinson (Rome, Ga./Model HS) and Sam Starks (Murphy, N.C./Hiwassee Dam HS), and third basemen/first basemen Ian Murray (Helena, Ala./Thompson HS) and Michael Whatley (Marietta, Ga./Marietta HS).

Five other newcomers will join Scott in fighting for playing time in the outfield, including Bo Davis (Crossville, Tenn./Cumberland County HS), Stephen Gaylor (Rome, Ga./Rome HS/Georgia Southwestern), Caleb McCreary (Adairsville, Ga./Adairsville HS), Ryan Smith (Newnan, Ga./Northgate HS) and Sam Williamson (Athens, Ga./East Jackson HS).

The 18 newcomers will join 26 players expected to return from a Berry team that put together a 26-14 overall mark in 2011.

A closer look at each of the 18 newcomers follows.

MITCH COHEN
LHP – 5-11 -190 – L/L – Alpharetta, Ga. (Chattahoochee HS)

Prior to Berry: Attended Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek, Ga., where he put together a 7-2 record in 13 appearances as a senior en route to second team All-Region honors…was 10-3 overall during his high school career…tossed three complete games in 2011…struck out 52 batters and walked just eight in 59 innings of work in final season…helped lead team to the Class AAAA state playoffs in 2011…earned Varsity Pitching Award in 2011… a two-time Academic/Athletic Award winner…member of the honor roll at Chattahoochee.

Personal: Born Jan. 11, 1993 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. …son of Sheryn and Marc Cohen…has one brother, Josh…undecided on a major at Berry.

BO DAVIS
OF – 6-1 -165 – L/L – Crossville, Tenn. (Cumberland County HS)

Prior to Berry: Attended Cumberland County High School in Crossville, Tenn., where he hit .352 with six home runs and 52 runs batted during his prep career…was a three-time All-District honoree…hit .370 with one home run as a senior, while earning his team's Defensive MVP award…named to the Super Sophomore Team and earned Cumberland County's Offensive MVP honor in 2009…graduated with high honors…earned academic awards for biology, United States history and Spanish…member of the BETA club.

Personal: Born Feb. 11, 1993 in Crossville, Tenn. ...son of Julie and Ron Davis…one sister, Madison…undecided on a major at Berry.

ALEX FORSYTH
SS – 5-7 – 165 – R/R – Cartersville, Ga. (Woodland HS/Snead State CC)

Prior to Berry: Played two years of junior college ball, transferring to Berry after his sophomore season at Snead State (Ala.) Community College…hit .347 at Snead State…played freshman year at Florida State College at Jacksonville…graduate of Woodland High School in Cartersville, Ga., where he hit .408 over the course of his senior season…also finished that year with 27 runs batted in, 28 runs scored and five triples…named team's Most Valuable Player, team's Offensive MVP and earned the Wildcat Award…helped lead Woodland to a pair of playoff appearances…honor student.

Personal: Born Dec. 27, 1990 in Cartersville, Ga. …son of Carol Garin and Eric Forsyth…five brothers, TJ, Josh, Nick, Jeremy and Andy…an animal science major and business minor at Berry.

STEPHEN GAYLOR
OF – 6-1 – 180 – L/R – Rome, Ga. (Rome HS/Georgia Southwestern State Univ.)

Prior to Berry: Attended Georgia Southwestern State University as a freshman…hit .270 (27-for-100) and scored 21 runs for the Hurricanes in first collegiate season…started 25 of the 30 games in which he played for GSW…graduated from Rome High School, which he helped lead to the Region 7-AAAA championship and the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs in 2008…hit .600 with three home runs and 27 runs batted in as a senior…also swiped 27 bases and collected three doubles and five triples that year…earned All-Region and All-Area honors in 2009 and 2010…second team All-Area in 2008…served as team captain as a senior…graduated with honors...member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Born Oct. 4, 1991 in Rome, Ga. …son of Crystal and Scott Gaylor…two sisters, Kristen and Shannen, and one brother, Tucker…an exercise science major at Berry.

MICHAEL GWIN
RHP/INF – 6-0 – 195 – R/R – Adairsville, Ga. (Adairsville HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Adairsville High School in Adairsville, Ga. …put together a career .407 batting average with one home run, 34 runs batted in, 37 runs scored, 13 doubles and three stolen bases at Adairsville…helped lead team to a region championship as a senior, when he hit .363 with one home run and 25 RBIs…also collected 31 runs, 10 doubles and three stolen bases in 2011, en route to second team All-Region and honorable mention All-Area awards…helped Adairsville reach the first round of the playoffs as a sophomore and junior…a Super Honor Graduate and Honor Graduate from Adairsville…earned Georgia Certificate of Merit…also earned separate academic awards for math, science and engineering, respectively.

Personal: Born Feb. 7, 1993 in Rome, Ga. …son of Kathy and Emmett Gwin…one sister, Melissa…four brothers, Myron, Jr., Shonn, R.D., and Jacob…a dual mathematics/engineering major at Berry.

JAKE KENNEDY
SS/2B – 5-8 – 135 – R/R – Cumming, Ga. (Lambert HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Lambert High School in Suwanee, Ga. …hit .302 and put together a .437 on-base percentage as a senior, when Lambert won the Region 7-AAAA championship and reached the second round of the playoffs in just the school's second year of existence…graduate with honors.

Personal: Born July 31, 1993…son of Becky and Ken Kennedy…one brother, Zach…a business management major at Berry.

CALEB McCREARY
OF – 6-2 – 210 – R/R – Adairsville, Ga. (Adairsville HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Adairsville High School…three-year letter winner earned All-County, All-Area and honorable mention 7-AA All-Region awards…hit .415 with five homers and a .900 slugging percentage over the course of his prep career…as a senior, helped lead team to the 7-AA regional championship and the second round of the state playoffs…hit .400 with three home runs and a .825 slugging percentage in 2011…on the mound, was 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA in final year…Adairsville reached the first round of the playoffs in 2010 and the second round in 2009…graduated from Adairsville with honors…the four-year honor roll member was a National AP Scholar, and earned the Georgia Certificate of Merit, the Academic Superstar Award, the honor for holding the highest average in Spanish I and Spanish II, and brought home an economics award.

Personal: Born April 7, 1993 in Cartersville, Ga. …son of Cindy and Frank McCreary…one sister, Katie…one brother, Cole…a biochemistry major at Berry.

IAN MURRAY
3B/1B – 5-10 – 170 – Helena, Ala. (Thompson HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala. …hit .302 and put together a .422 on-base percentage over the course of his three year varsity career…hit .265 with nine doubles, two triples and two home runs as a senior…chosen to participate in the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association 2010 All-Star Weekend…also earned two varsity letters as a wrestler…class valedictorian and honors graduate…member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society and Spanish Honor Society.

Personal: Born April 24, 1993 in Birmingham, Ala. …son of Angie and Mike Murray…two brothers, Matthew and Eric…a nursing/pre-med major at Berry.

MATT PINSON
1B – 6-0 – 185 - L/R – Rome, Ga. (Model HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Model High School in Rome, Ga. …as a senior, hit .310 (18-for-58) with five doubles, three triples and 10 runs batted in…also scored 12 runs and drew a pair of walks in 2011…honors graduate…member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Born March 12, 1993 in Rome, Ga. …son of Janice and Allen Pinson…one sister, Lacey…a business management major at Berry.

KEVIN SCOTT
OF/RHP – 6-1 – 170 – R/R – Newnan, Ga. (Newnan HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Newnan High School…earned first team All-County honors after hitting .321 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases as a senior…helped Newnan reach the state semifinals as a senior and the quarterfinals as a junior…played in the Georgia All-Star game…graduated from Newnan with high honors…member of the National Honor Society and the gifted program…active as a volunteer with the Special Olympics and Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.).

Personal: Born March 16, 1993 in Atlanta…son of Mary and Mike Scott…one sister, Samantha…a finance major and marketing minor at Berry.

ADAM SEEWOESTER
C/3B – 5-11 – 195 – R/R – Acworth, Ga. (Kell HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Kell High School in Marietta, Ga. …hit .340 with eight home runs during his high school career…as a senior, hit .346 with three homers and 19 runs batted in…helped lead Kell to second round of playoffs as a senior…Kell also appeared in playoffs during Seewoester's sophomore season…graduated with honors…served as DECA club treasurer as a junior and vice president as a senior.

Personal: Born Oct. 19, 1992 in St. Louis, Mo. …Son of Patty and Mark Seewoester…one brother, John…undecided on a major at Berry.

RYAN SMITH
OF – 6-0 – 190 – L/R – Newnan, Ga. (Northgate HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Northgate High School in Newnan, Ga. …team's offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2011…helped lead Northgate to the state quarterfinals in 2010 and the first round of the playoffs in 2011…graduated with honors.

Personal: Born Feb. 3, 1993 in Tucker, Ga. …son of Torrice and Rufus Smith…two sisters, Morgan and Lauran…a dual-degree Engineering major at Berry.

SAM STARKS
1B – 6-3 – 270 – R/R – Murphy, N.C. (Hiwassee Dam HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Hiwassee Dam High School in Murphy, N.C. …over the course of his final three years at HDHS, hit .385 (57-for-148) with six home runs and eight doubles…as a senior, hit .392 (20-for-51) with one homer and four doubles…helped lead Hiwassee Dam to three straight Little Smokey Mountain regular season titles (2008-10) and four playoff appearances…earned the Eagle Baseball Award as a junior and senior…graduated with honors…earned an Excellence in Science award all four years…named Mr. Hiwassee Dam.

Personal: Born Nov. 10, 1992 in Cleveland, Tenn. …son of Melody and Michael Starks…one brother, Gabriel…a chemistry major at Berry.

NICK STIDHAM
C – 5-10 – 175 – L/R – Lilburn, Ga. (Providence Christian Academy)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Providence Christian Academy in Lilburn, Ga. …a three year letter winner who hit .363 with nine home runs and 56 runs batted in during his varsity career…as a senior, hit .406 with eight home runs and 46 runs batted in…helped lead team to the state finals in 2011 and the state quarterfinals in 2010…Providence Christian won regional titles in 2009 and 2011…honor student…member of the National Honor Society and the BETA Club.

Personal: Born Dec. 23, 1992…son of Wanda and Jeff Stidham…two sisters, Maegan and Ashley…one brother, Zachary…a biology major at Berry.

BRAXTON TEAL
RHP – 6-1 – 155 – R/R – Columbia, Tenn. (Spring Hill HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Spring Hill High School in Spring Hill, Tenn. …put together a combined 17-3 pitching record as a junior and senior…over the course of his four year varsity career, struck out 151 batters in 123 innings of work…was 9-2 with a 2.14 earned run average while striking out 70 batters in 55 innings as a senior…named to All-District team as a junior and senior…in 2011, Spring Hill won regional and district titles and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs…SHHS also won district crowns in 2009 and 2010, and was the state runner-up in 2010…graduated with honors and in the top 10 percent of his class…member of the honor roll throughout his prep career…earned several academic awards, including honors in English III and Modern History…was named a Tennessee Scholar…earned National You Leadership Award, as well as the Service Above Self Award for leadership…served as president of Project Lead the Way…was the parliamentarian for DECA…Spanish Club historian…member of the Pep Club.

Personal: Born July 26, 1993 in Columbia, Tenn. …son of Kim and Craig Teal…one brother, Colton…an exercise science major at Berry.

TANNER WARREN
RHP – 5-11 – 165 – R/R – Ochlocknee, Ga. (Thomasville HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Ga. …put together a 15-7 record over his final two seasons…was 7-4 with a 3.76 earned run average as a senior...struck out 71 batters and walked 21 in 63 1/3 innings of work in 2011, while completing seven of the 11 games in which he started…as a junior, put together an 8-3 record with a 2.63 ERA…started eight games and completed five in 2010…fanned 61 batters and walked just 13 in 53 1/3 innings as a junior…graduated with honors.

Personal: Born Sept. 3, 1992 in Thomasville, Ga. …son of Vicki and Landon Warren…an environmental science major at Berry.

MICHAEL WHATLEY
3B/1B – 6-3 – 185 – R/R – Marietta, Ga. (Marietta HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from Marietta High School…was a three year letter winner on the diamond…named team's Defensive Player of the Year honor…earned Scholar-Athlete award at Marietta…graduated with honors…member of the BETA Club.

Personal: Born Aug. 22, 193 in Marietta, Ga. …son of Debbie and Mike Whatley…one sister, Anna…one brother, John…an engineering major at Berry.

SAM WILLIAMSON
OF – 5-10 – 160 – R/R – Athens, Ga. (East Jackson HS)

Prior to Berry: Graduated from East Jackson High School in Commerce, Ga. …during his four year varsity career, put together a batting average over .400 and belted 10 home runs, while leading his team in strikeouts as a pitcher…pitched only no-hitter in school history…twice earned second team All-Region honors…also a two-time honorable mention All-Northeast Georgia selection…as a senior, hit .430 with four home runs and a pair of complete games on the mound…named one of the Georgia Dugout Club's "Players to Watch"…an honors graduate…member of the National English Honor Society…president of the Conflict Management Team…vice president of East Jackson's Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle.

Personal: Born Sept. 3, 1992 in Decatur, Ga. …son of Tammy and Tony Williamson…two sisters, Sally Pat and Grace Ann…a biology major and animal science minor at Berry.

- BerryVikings.com -