CARROLLTON, Ga. - UWG head baseball coach Jeff Smith rounded out his 2023 roster with 11 players over the summer, recently announcing his final recruits for the 2022-23 academic year. 

“I am very excited about this year's recruiting class. We have some very talented players to help our program continue to move the needle. Bryan Niedbalski, my recruiting coordinator, did a good job of finding the right players who have the skill set, mental makeup, and toughness needed to compete in the Gulf South Conference,” said Smith. “The focus was to add to our pitching staff with quality and depth. I truly believe we did that while also addressing some needs with our position players. We've added a mix of freshmen, junior college transfers as well as four year transfers. I think with the core of returning players and the addition of this class our program will represent the university in a positive way.”

Working alongside recruiting coordinator and assistant coach Bryan Niedbalski, Smith brought in the majority of this final crop of newcomers for the Wolves as transfers coming from junior college programs across the southeast. Three are Division I transfers and one is an incoming freshman. Eight come from the state of Georgia with one each from Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama. On the position front, Smith brought in five pitchers, three infielders, and three outfielders. 

Chase Townsend: RHP/ Kennesaw State University

Beginning his collegiate career at Georgia Highlands College, Townsend spent two seasons with the Chargers, appearing in 20 total games on the mound. During the 2020-21 season, Townsend appeared in 16 games, making 12 starts, posting 62 innings and a season ERA of 5.23. During the 2022 season, Townsend was a member of the Kennesaw State Owls where he saw limited action. He only appeared in three games during the season, and only pitched three innings. 

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Chase Townsend
“Chase is a proven big time arm that we are counting on throwing a lot for us this season. He is a work horse that has a track record showing he competes at a very high level and throws in big time innings, and a guy you can count on to throw strikes and give you a great chance to win that day. He is a guy we tried to get out of Junior College a few years ago, but we eventually ended up getting him here to Carrollton down the road. He might be new to the team, but people will follow his lead and be a big part of this pitching staff this season.”

Bay Witcher RHP/ Troy University

Hailing from Loganville, GA, Witcher began his career at Troy University, playing four years for the Trojans. The right hander pitched 174.2 career innings for Troy, posting a 5.62 ERA during that time. During his 2022 campaign, Witcher completed 57.0 innings on the mound with an 8.05 ERA. His best outing of the season came against Georgia Tech where he went 6.1 innings, allowing just seven hits, two earned runs, no walks, and struck out four. 

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Chase Townsend
“Bay is yet another big time older proven arm we have brought in to help solidify this staff this season. He is originally from Loganville, Georgia, so anytime you can bring a kid back to his home state is great. You can count on giving us a great chance to win when he takes the mound. A four year sample size of starting games in the Sun Belt Conference gives us a lot of excitement to see what he can do not only for himself, but also the team this season. He is another guy who will help lead this staff, and younger guys can follow daily. Anytime you can add a power arm with over 170 innings pitched in a top D1 program is huge addition for us, not only on the field, but also in the clubhouse.”

Mike Schicker RHP/ Chattanooga State CC

During his 2022 campaign with Chattanooga State, Schickler appeared in 14 games making five starts. He completed 47.1 innings on the year, while only giving up 16 earned runs, posting an ERA of 3.04. He also struck out 50 batters while only issuing 19 free passes. 

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Mike Schicker
“Mike has been a priority for us since last fall. We knew he was going to have a great year, so we targeted him very early. He is a power arm with a plus slider. He had a great spring being the main arm for a very deep and talented junior college team.  The best thing about Mike is that his arm is fresh out of high school. He was originally committed to a power 5 team as a catcher, but he ended up going juco and taking the mound and has not looked back since. He has excelled in the Northwoods League the past two summers against very high level competition, so he is just now starting to tap into his full potential. He is a very good athlete, so he will be very fun to watch to continue to develop the next couple of years. He is a swing guy so he can start or come out of the pen for us, so we will see where he and the team needs him most.”

Cade Hohl | Middle INF/ Purdue

Hohl spent his true freshman season with the Boilermakers, but did not see any game action during the 2022 season. During the summer, Hohl played with the Ofall Hoots in a prospect league, where he had 110 AB’s, posting a .318 average with 10 doubles, two home runs, 16 stolen bases, 23 RBI’s, and an .859 OPS.

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Cade Hohl
“Cade was a guy we targeted early on in the summer. He can play anywhere on the field and is a very good athlete. Anytime you can add a power 5 middle infielder you know the athletic ability will be excellent. He got stuck during the COVID seasons as a younger player and did not get as many as bats as some, but the last two summers he has been outstanding in the field and swinging the bat. Cade, adds a more dynamic athletic player we can stick literally on the infield and he will produce at very high level. He is a grinder and loves the game and loves to compete, he will play a big role for this team.”

Cooper Prince OF/ Snead State CC

Prince comes to Carrollton from Snead State where he played a big role in their outfield during the 2022 season. He played in 51 games, posting a batting average of .337, racking up 58 hits, seven doubles, three triples, and one home run, while also drawing the free pass 33 times. He had multiple multi-hit games, as well as a three hit, three run performance against Itawamba CC. 

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Cooper Prince
“Coop is a guy I think the people of Carrollton will really enjoy watching play the game. He is a little undersized, which might have scared some people away. Every time you watch him play you can see how much he loves the game and enjoys winning. He has won everywhere he has played, which is something we value here at UWG. You might not notice him the first time you see him play, but all he does is find his way on base. He has a very high bat to ball skill, a plus runner and somebody that will help us win a lot of games here. He gives us a proven left handed bat, which is something we targeted very hard this past recruiting calendar year. Anytime you can add a leadoff hitter from a junior college team that went to the World Series this past season, you know your lineup will be better.” 

Ryan Godfrey 1B - DH/ Snead State CC

Godfrey began his career at Snead State in 2019, and has done nothing but produce since he stepped on campus. In three seasons, Godfrey has played in 110 total games, totaling 110 hits, 81 runs scored, 24 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs, and 91 RBI’s. He has a career .330 average and a .505 slugging %. During the 2022 season, Godfrey had 49 hits, scored 46 runs, six home runs, and posted a .333 average. 

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Ryan Godfrey
"Ryan was a big first base prospect we were following all season. He is another Georgia boy we were lucky enough to bring back home. Ryan is a power hitting, middle of the order bat that just drives in runs. He was a key piece of the Snead State lineup that went to the World Series this past season. He makes consistent hard contact that will produce a lot of runs here at UWG. He brings us something different which we were lacking past season in a power hitting lefty bat that can drive in runs and help break up the other righties in the lineup. All he has done the past two seasons is hit and drive in bigtime runs for winning teams, so we are beyond excited he is with us.”

Jake Jordan RHP/ Southern Union CC

Jordan in 2022: 12 Appearances, 2-0, 8.03 ERA, 15Ks

Hailing from Ellerslie, GA, Jake Jordan Prepped at Southern Union State Community College where he made 12 appearances, accumulating a 2-0 record with 15 strikeouts.

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Jake Jordan
“Jake is yet another junior college player we were able to bring back home to Georgia. Jake is a long lean arm that will help us get some big outs this spring. He has plus velocity with his fastball, and a breaking ball that plays off his fastball. Jake, will only get better while he is here. We expect him to even take a bigger jump once he is with our strength staff to add on a few pounds. The sky is the limit for him with his mentality and work ethic. He threw some big innings in junior college and we expect him to do the same thing here as a Wolf.”

Myles Cook  OF/ Southern Union CC

Cook in 2022: .373, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs, 19 SBs, 35 R/ .291, 30 sbs,.436 OBP

Myles Cook prepped at Southern Union State Community College where he hit .291 with a .436 OBP, while stealing 30 bases as a freshman. Cook took a massive leap in his sophomore season as the Sharpsburg native Hit .373 with a .524 OBP, while stealing 19 bases.

“Myles is another junior college player we were able to bring back home to the state of Georgia. His speed is as good as you will find on a baseball field. His ability in the outfield to track balls is second to none. When he is on base, his speed can change the game in the blink of an eye. He is a guy we targeted early in the fall, and ultimately ended up getting him this summer. It will be a lot of fun to watch him develop here at UWG and put all his tools together.”

Wyatt Castoe INF/ Northwest Florida State CC

Wyatt Castoe started his collegiate career at Charleston, before making his way to Northwest Florida State Community College in 2021. Castoe brings his elite defensive skills to Carrollton, as the Fairmount native has never committed an error in his collegiate career.

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Wyatt Castoe
“Wyatt is a very athletic middle infielder we are bringing home to the state of Georgia. He is coming from one of the very best junior college programs in the entire country at NWFSCC. He knows nothing but winning, which is a great addition to the program. We can throw him anywhere on the infield and he will get the job done. He brings our team another outstanding athlete that can run very well and play the game at a high level. It will be very fun to watch him to continue to develop as a player and person here. The intangibles are off the charts for him, to go along with his skill level.”

Trey Kaiser OF/ Pope HS

Hailing from Marietta, GA, Trey Kasier prepped at Pope High School where he led Pope to a 33- 7 record and a 6A Georgia State Championship. He is the grandson of UWG Hall of Fame basketball coach Roger Kaiser. 

“Trey is a very talented and gifted baseball player. His speed and athleticism is something you can see right away on the baseball field. He will fit in well with the guys around him and will develop very fast here at UWG. Trey was also an outstanding basketball player for Pope High School who always got a late start on baseball because of basketball. I think with only playing baseball now you will see his baseball skill level start to come into full bloom. He comes from a great baseball program over at Pope who just won the state championship, so winning is also part of his DNA. It will be very fun to watch Trey develop here and invest his time on just baseball.”

Ryan Whitener RHP/ Chattanooga State CC

Ryan Whitener, a Woodstock, GA native, prepped at Oglethorpe University before transferring to Chattanooga State Community College in 2021. At Oglethorpe, Whitener made 11 appearances and pitched 15.2 innings as a freshman. As a sophomore at Chattanooga State, Whitener pitched 18 innings, accumulating a 3.50 ERA with 18 strikeouts.

Coach Bryan Niedbalski on Ryan Whitener
“Ryan, along with a few other we have signed comes from a great junior college program in Chattanooga State. He is also yet another junior college player we are able to bring back home to Georgia. Ryan, is a bullpen arm that logged big innings for a good team. He is used to getting thrown into the fire from the bullpen and helping his the team get out of jams. Ryan loves the ball and loves to compete. He brings us a bullpen arm that can throw from down under and from over the top. Anytime you can give hitters different looks, it makes it a challenge. We expect him to pick up right where he left off in junior college and get big outs for us.”