DANVILLE, Ky. — Centre baseball head coach Drew Briese recently announced the Colonels’ 2017 recruiting class with nine incoming players including recently graduated Lawrence Co. Bulldog Trace Bowen to join the Centre program in the fall.
Bowen was hurt after throwing only six pitches in a scrimmage game vs Raceland and has battled injuries all season long. He was supposed to ease the loss of 8 seniors off last year’s team after transferring back from Sheldon Clark were he had an outstanding year on the mound which included a 2-1 victory over Region champion Johnson Central.
“We are excited about the needs we addressed with the 2017 recruiting class,” said Briese. “The two key areas to be strengthened with this class were pitching depth and athleticism. There are several players who will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact as first year student-athletes.
But, more than anything, we are bringing in a group who will impact our campus and our team for years to come because of the type of people they are. These players will lead our program not only because of the way they play, but because of their willingness to accept the challenge to take Centre Baseball to heights it has not seen.”
Players from five states are represented in the Centre baseball class of 2021, including Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. Briese, who enters his second season at his alma mater brings in five pitchers, a pair of outfielders and two infielders.
Below are the members of the Colonels’ incoming recruiting class.
Trace Bowen – LHP – (Louisa, Ky. / Lawrence County)
Hogan Brownley – LHP – (Louisville, Ky. / Male)
Sam Edwards – RHP- (Goshen, Ohio / Goshen)
Chris Esselman – RHP – (Louisville, Ky. / St Xavier)
Jordan Gunter – OF- (Louisville, Ky. / Ballard)
Cole Hilt – OF – (Lexington, Ky. / Dunbar)
Jake Holloway – RHP – (Nashville, Tenn. / Battle Ground Academy)
Patrick Hope – 1B – (Atlanta, Ga. / Riverwood International School)
Austin Sharkey – INF – (West Palm Beach, Fla. / King’s Academy)
Centre posted an 18-22 record in 2017, marking the Colonels’ most wins since 2008 when they finished with a 20-17 record.
Trace Bowen quote…
“… I’m very honored to be able to be a part of such a great thing happening at Centre college. I’m very excited to see the opportunities that await. All of those countless hours in the back yard paid off. This has been my dream since I was a child and I feel very humbled to see it come to reality.”
