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CHS grad thrives in Texas baseball despite injury

BY MARC DAVID
Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4:13 AM MST

Charlie Garrett went to Southwestern University with the idea he would be a second baseman.

“I figured because of my size and that I don’t have a strong arm, they would put me at second base,” Garrett said. “The second day of practice, the coach told me he liked my feet and that I could move well.”

Coach Jim Shelton also grew to like Garrett’s bat. The 5-8, 165-pound Garrett was the Pirates’ second leading hitter (.365) his freshman year and led the team in RBIs (29), runs scored (30) and stolen bases (10) hitting out of the 9-hole.

Shelton chuckled when told that Garrett thought he would be a collegiate second baseman. When the Coolidge High salutatorian came to Southwestern, he was No. 2 on the depth chart and wasn’t the starter until the No. 1 player was injured.

“Charlie is very unorthodox as a fielder and a hitter,” Shelton said. “You watch him play and there isn’t much he does (normal). But he gets the job done. If you tried to break him down and make him more fundamental, he wouldn’t be near as good as he is. The main thing is he gets the job done.”

Garrett was unable to match his freshman numbers his second year. However, he still put up solid numbers a .328 average, second on the team in runs with 26 and leading the team in stolen bases with nine. Also, he earned all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention status for the second straight season.

“His freshman year was a surprise; it was not really expected,” Shelton said. “He was definitely a pleasant surprise. His second year, he got more respect and we hit him leadoff. He still hit .328, which is respectable for a sophomore. Remember, he is a second-year college baseball player.”

Garrett, 20, battled nagging shoulder and back injuries during his sophomore year, which he feels impacted his production.

“I did not play as well as I should,” he said. “I don’t think the shoulder injury from high school fully healed because I did too much too quickly (in college). I couldn’t work out (the summer after his freshman year). This summer, I will rest it and then work on getting stronger.”

Garrett is currently finishing up a three-week elective at Southwestern, located in Georgetown, Texas. Afterwards, he will return home to Coolidge. He said he will work at Kids Kamp and will hit in the batting cage. Once the shoulder heals, he will lift weights.

“It was a good decision; I’m really glad I came here,” said Garrett, a business major who had a 3.49 grade point average his last semester. “I wanted to play right away and this gave me that opportunity.”

Garrett, who chose Southwestern over Austin College and Menlo College, feels he can better his freshman numbers during his junior year and has team goals as well. The Pirates were 17-20 overall, 8-12 in conference.

“We want to make the conference tournament,” Garrett said. ìWe were one game away. I feel we’ll have a good shot next year.”

As for individual goals, ìI want to make all-conference, not just honorable mention. I want to hit over .400. I thought I had a chance my freshman year but I slumped at the end of the season.”

Shelton will be happy if Garrett can provide a boost at the top of the order.

“Charlie is a guy we like to be our spark plug,” Shelton said. “We want him to be the leadoff guy who sets the table for us. He has the capability to do it.”

Unlike during his Bear years, Garrett is a one-sport athlete now.

“I miss football a lot,” he admitted. “I was just too small to play in college.”

That may be true, but the little man is a big man in the Pirates’ lineup.

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