CARROLLTON, Ga.- Out of the seven catchers on the Wolves squad this year, all seven are Georgia-boys, Hank Smith and David Bell are the two returners behind the dish. There are two newcomers joining the squad from community/junior colleges; David Denton joins from Gordon State, and Jackson Freeman from Saint Johns River CC. Rounding out the squad is one Division I transfer from Mercer, Luca Perrillo and two freshmen, Reid Davis and Cole Gilmore
Hank Smith: One of just two returning catchers, Hank originally transferred from Jacksonville State; Hank now enters his redshirt-junior year after playing in 27 games and starting 17 games behind the dish last season for the Wolves. He had nine hits, four RBI's, four runs, and a homer last season. Recorded a .992 fielding percentage while also throwing out four from behind the dish. Smith became the first Wolf in UWG history to be named to the Academic All-ASUN team. A Cartersville HS graduate, he helped the Purple Hurricanes reach the 2022 Class 5A State Title series.
David Bell: Returning for his junior campaign at UWG, Bell played in 41 games, starting in 39 last season. Bell posted a .266 batting average (second highest on UWG last season), 37 hits, 32 runs, 32 RBI's, 11 doubles, and eight homers. He hit four home runs during the three-game series versus Stetson, while also going 7-13 at the plate. Before transferring to West Georgia, his year at Wharton CC he averaged .294 and 30 RBI's for the Pioneers. He was rated the No. 2 catcher and No. 42 overall player in Georgia, as well as the No. 24 catcher in the nation, by Perfect Game.
David Denton: Denton transferred from Gordon State along with teammate Gage Dickerson. He ended his redshirt-freshman career seeing action 42 times, recording 40 hits, batting .325, tallied 21 RBI's, 29 runs, and was hit-by-pitch ten times leading the team. Prepped at Morgan County HS as a catcher, was named 2024 Region-AAA Defensive Player of the Year, and Region-AAA First Team All-Region.
Luca Perriello: Spending his freshman season at Virginia Tech, Perriello recorded a grand slam in his first collegiate at-bat versus Bucknell. Spending last season at Mercer, he saw action in eight games at Mercer and recorded a .143 average at the plate. In high school he received South Carolina Independent School Association 4A All-State honors as both a junior and senior, and won back-to-back SCISA 4A state championships in his two seasons there.
Jackson Freeman: Transfer from Saint Johns River CC with teammates Thomas Bly and Blaine Schmitt. The catcher saw action in two games at Saint Johns River where he recorded a hit. Freeman prepped at Flowery Branch High School, Perfect Game ranked Freeman the eighth best Georgia catcher in his class of 2025. He helped Flowery Branch reach the second round of the 4A-Region 8 playoffs.
Reid Davis: Davis is an incoming freshman catcher from Newnan, Ga. And prepped at Newnan High School. He helped Newnan win their first 2025 GHSA Class 5A State Championship in 34 years in baseball by batting a .448 through the playoff run.
