VALDOSTA —
For the second time in less than a week, a member of this year’s Lowndes varsity baseball team signed a letter of intent to play college baseball.
This week, it was designated hitter and infielder Seth Evans. The big-hitting Viking signed with Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala.
“I just felt like it was a good fit for me,” Evans said. “They needed a third baseman, and third base is my primary position.”
A high-caliber player, Evans was slowed during his senior season with an arm injury when fluid was found near his throwing elbow. The injury prohibited him from playing third base. The lack of defensive play hurt his chances of earning a Division I or a Division II scholarship, said head coach Danny Redshaw.
“It hurt him,” Redshaw said. “He probably didn’t get the looks he was going to get because he DH’d a lot of the year with the arm problems. It certainly didn’t help.”
Regardless of the injury, Evans powered his way onto the All-Region 1-AAAAA first team in 2012 after hitting .405 with a team-high 20 runs batted in and 23 runs scored. He finished the season with two home runs and a team-leading 10 doubles.
“It was tough, but at least I could hit,” Evans said. “I’m aggressive (at the plate).”
With the opportunity to play at Wallace, Evans will once again get the opportunity to display his baseball talents to four-year universities. Wallace is one of the top junior college schools in the Southeast.
“That is a major reason to go there,” said Evans, who admitted his ultimate goal is to play for Florida State. “They are a feeder to Troy, Auburn, they’ve had some guys go to Florida State.”
In order to transfer to a Division I program, Evans will need to complete 60 credit hours by the end of his second year. NCAA rules prohibit junior college players from transferring to a Division I program if they don’t have 60 hours complete in the classroom. Those players who have not completed 60 hours are eligible to play at the Division II level. The rules put pressure on Evans to succeed in both the classroom and on the field.
“My mom is a teacher, so the academic pressure is always going to be there,” Evans said.
“I think Seth has a chance to get better and find his niche, position wise, and move on to the next level — a four-year school,” Redshaw added. “He certainly hits well, he runs well. He works his butt off. Nobody is going to outwork him. If things pan out for him over there at Wallace, I definitely think he has the ability to move on to the next level.”
Evans’ career at Lowndes was widely filled with success. He was named to the All-Region team twice and helped guide the Vikings to winning records in all four seasons.
“It was great playing at this program,” Evans said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
This summer, Evans and teammate Luke Miller represented Team Georgia in a tournament in Oklahoma. During their time with Team Georgia, Evans and Miller were able to play against some of the nation’s top graduating high school seniors.
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Related Photos
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Seth Evans was a first-team All-Region selection in 2012. The Valdosta Daily Times
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Lowndes’ Seth Evans signs a letter of intent to play baseball at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala. Seated: mother Melissa Evans, Seth Evans and father Keith Evans. Back row: sisters Kiersten and Brianna Evans, Jamey Shouppe, Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw and LHS pitching coach Kip McLeod. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
Discussion
Lowndes’ Seth Evans signs with Wallace Community College
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