ATHENS — Princeton fans looking to relive memories of the 2012 baseball state championship won’t have far to travel.
Austin Southcott, shortstop and pitcher, on the Tigers team, has decided to take his talents to Concord University where he will continue his baseball career as a pitcher.
“I’m probably going to be a relief pitcher at this point,” Southcott explained, “I closed for a team in AAU ball and I really liked it. It would be awesome to close for Concord.”
Southcott’s excited to be a Mountain Lion because his mom, Kate, is the current volleyball coach at the school.
Austin said, “I’m not going to say that [his mom] being the volleyball coach there was the only reason I chose to go to Concord but it played a big part in my decision.”
Right now, though, Southcott is content to remember the 2012 Princeton Tigers baseball season.
“It’s not every team that gets to end their year with a win,” Southcott said Wednesday evening by phone, “It meant the world to me.”
Southcott was happy that he and his teammates made it back to the state final four as they had their sophomore year under then first year coach Josh Wilburn. Wilburn played a huge role in his development as a player.
“Coach Wilburn taught me that if you work hard enough your dreams will come true,” Southcott explained, “He taught me a lot more too. I learned pretty much everything from him.”
Not surprisingly, Southcott ends to follow Wilburn’s path into coaching. He wants to major in education on the Campus Beautiful in preparation of becoming a physical education teacher and coach at a high school somewhere.
“I don’t know if I’ll coach baseball or basketball,” Southcott said, “I played basketball at Princeton but it wasn’t my priority. Baseball was always my number one sport.”
And that it will stay, as Southcott moves from high school shortstop to college relief pitcher echoing infamous San Diego Padres closer Trevor Hoffman’s similar move in the minor leagues.
“I’m just going to do the best I can to help Concord win,” Southcott said, “They’ve got a great baseball program and I’m lucky to be a part of it.”
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