• Charlotte returns all but one pitcher off last year’s regional team, so the 49ers focused on position players, continuing to load up on smallish, quick-twitch athletes as they have in recent years. Second baseman/outfielder Brad Elwood, outfielders Leland Clemmons and Bradley Cook, shortstop Derek Gallelo, and infielder Michael Bonifay all stand 5-foot-10 or under but bring speed and athleticism. Elwood has most polished bat in the group and has surprising strength from the left side. Clemmons is raw but has loud tools—plus speed and arm strength—and could win the starting center field job as a freshman. Brett Lang and Patrick King give this class a pair of catchers for the future.
Colquitt County middle infielder Matt Creech, second from right, signs to continue his baseball career at UNC-Charlotte. Shown with the Packers senior are, from left, his mother Mary Ann, brother Nate, father Ed and at right is Colquitt County baseball coach Tony Kirkland. Creech, who batted .346, drove in 27 runs and stole 25 bases in helping lead the Packers to the state semifinals last spring, is the second player off that team to sign with a Division I program. Pitcher Cole Pitts is currently playing at Georgia Tech.
