Chargers Make Waves in the 2018 MLB Draft
The Georgia Highlands Baseball Team is coming off a two year run in which the Chargers have won 69 games, an NJCAA Region 17 Championship, been recognized as an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year, and seen 27 players advance to 4 year universities.
Now you can add a pair of 2018 MLB Draft selections to the list of accomplishments. Freshman right handed pitcher Noah Bryant was taken in the 17th round by the Kansas City Royals. Bryant featured an explosive fastball that reached as high as 97 miles per hour as he struck out 22 hitters in 18.1 innings in relief in 2018. Head Coach Dash O'Neill had a hunch the fireballing righty might get picked up in June from the very first time he saw him. "Right off the bat, you could see he had a special arm and that there was alot more in the tank. I pretty much knew from the first time I saw him that he'd be leaving GHC as a draft pick, it was really just a matter of which year and what round they'd take him in." In six appearances for the Arizona League Royals, Bryant has a 1-0 record and a 4.50 ERA. "I'm just so proud for Noah to get this opportunity, and I'm glad Georgia Highlands could be a place for him to launch his career out of. Don't be surprised if in a few years you're seeing his name on TV. Once he's got a couple of years under his belt on the mound he could make a lot of noise."
The other Charger selected was incoming freshman Lavosier "LJ" Fisher, an outfielder from North Gwinnett High School, who was taken in the 37th round by the Pittsburg Pirates. LJ was a two sport star at North Gwinnett, where he was also standout wide receiver for the Bulldogs, who claimed the GHSA State Title in 2017. With professional baseball on the horizon, Fisher made the decision to forgo signing with the Pirates to attend Georgia Highlands this season. "LJ is an exciting player, and I am thrilled that he's going to be here with us this fall. He's got a great head on his shoulders and he's an explosive athlete. He was a great fit for us when we signed him, and I think his decision to come to school is going to pay off down the road. He is only going to improve and get better, so I expect big things from him at GHC and beyond."