Since graduating last year, Richmond Hill Wildcat-turned Augusta State Jaguar Scott Strickland has made quite an impact in the Peach Belt Conference.

"I’ve learned so much that I don’t know where to begin," Strickland said. "My coaches are telling me they want me to either be a conference starter or a full-time closer next year."

Strickland played in 30 innings this year, which is the first time a freshman has done so in almost 10 years. He also started three games.

Last month, in a game versus Newberry College, Strickland pitched a six-inning shutout to lead his team to a 5-3 victory.

"That was his best performance of the year," his dad Sandy Strickland said. "He’s matured so much as a player and also as a person. I mean, here he was, 17-years-old being matched up with grown men in their twenties. He had to grow up in a hurry, but he has met the challenge and is really impressing everybody on that field."

The Jaguars just finished their season with a 29-25 record.

"His potential is unlimited," ASU baseball coach Skip Fite said. "He has improved throughout the whole year. He had a little difficulty at the beginning, but we made some adjustments to his mechanics which has paid off. He has developed more movement on his fastball and his curveball is definitely a lot quicker. He appeared in 12 games and struck out 19 batters which is quite impressive for a freshman. Scott is a young man with quality character and a lot of talent, and I have high expectations for him."

Strickland will be giving pitching lessons this summer and he was picked to play on a Chain advanced travel team. This team has some on the top players from the SE USA. They will play in tournaments all over the South East.