South Georgia - In The Game High School Sports Magazine

Cole is very involved at CCHS. Not only does he start on the varsity baseball team, but he plays varsity basketball as well. His father Craig is also involved with high school sports. Craig is a weight lifting instructor, and he coaches varsity baseball and football for the Packers. “The best thing about coaching Cole is being able to be around him all day, at school and on the baseball field. My son Chance helps coach the junior varsity Packers, so all three of us get to spend time together. Plus, with Cole on varsity, I won’t ever have to miss any of his games like I did with Chance.” Craig also coached Cole in 7th and 8th grade basketball, and in varsity football in 9th grade.

When it’s not baseball or basketball season, Cole plays on a traveling baseball team called Round Trip Baseball. “The team travels just about everywhere,” Cole states. “One tournament that was pretty cool was a national series in Fort Myers, Florida. The tournament consisted of 20 teams around the nation and we finished third overall.” Cole was named Most Valuable Pitcher in that tournament, and received a nice plaque.

His best sports memory so far was last year in Madison, Florida, when he started in his first varsity baseball game as the centerfielder. He went three for five with a homer, double, and single. He also picked up the save in that game with Madison, pitching the final three innings, giving up one run and striking out five. He was batting .444 after the tenth game and had to sit out the rest of the year after he broke his pitching hand thumb. Since then, Cole has started in almost every game.

After he graduates in 2011, Cole wants to play baseball at a NCAA Division-I school, preferably to pitch. Packer baseball coach Eric McCranie stated, “At 6’6 and 200 pounds, Cole has a frame to go along with his ability and athleticism to be as good as he wants at anything, not only baseball. His work ethic will allow him to go on to play at the next level and possibly beyond. Cole is also one of the nicest and well behaved young men that I’ve had the privilege to coach. He works hard in the class room, weight room, and on the field. It’s going to be fun to watch him grow, progress, and learn the game as the season continues and in the future.”

At press time, with his first five games of the baseball season Cole has a batting average of 0.500 with two home-runs, five runs batted in, and one triple. The Packers are 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the region with a win over Houston County. Cole will be pitching, playing first base, and possibly the outfield as the year progresses. Cole and the Packers hope for a successful year that leads them to the playoffs. •