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Though freshman first baseman Tristin English has been inexplicably overlooked for much of the season, his tremendous rookie year -- one which includes a batting average north of .300 and 34 RBIs so far -- has placed him among Tech's most valuable contributors. English, destined to be a starting pitcher when he initially committed to Tech (prior to an injury), has given head coach Danny Hall and the Jackets exactly what a successful team needs from a first baseman: a live bat, consistent protection for a fellow slugger, and some extremely solid defense from a position usually reserved for the defensively challenged. What else could you ask of a true freshman? If I remember correctly, Danny Hall even referred to English as Tech's top arm earlier this season. Brandon Gold has shown us just how valuable two-way players like that can be.
Speaking of ace Brandon Gold, his name will be the first that Danny Hall plans to call on during postseason play -- he is slated to start tonight against Boston College in Tech's ACC Tournament play-in game. That's an excellent decision from coach Hall, though I doubt it was a hard one for him to make. It's fun to discuss and debate who should get the ball in a game like this given the interesting situation with Tech's pitching staff, but when it's all said and done you absolutely have to go with your best guy. Tonight's game is a one-game playoff. If you lose, you go home and have potentially squandered a shot at the NCAA Tournament; you just have to give it your absolute best. Go with a combination of Gold and Matthew Gorst tonight and take a gamble on the rest of your staff when you absolutely have to.
Paul Johnson may not remember the first time that he and Boston College head coach Steve Addazio met, but the encounter is something that is still fresh in the mind of the Eagle head coach. As it happens, the two coaches first encountered each other when Johnson was coaching at Georgia Southern and Addazio was at Notre Dame. It was evidently not very memorable for Johnson, but the fact that the two coaches have some history to read about prior to their matchup in Ireland is interesting. It's painful to admit considering how atrocious BC's offense was last season, but there is clearly some option influence in the way that Addazio runs his team; look no further than the success of transfer quarterback Tyler Murphy in 2014. Don't look at the 2015 signal callers, though. That would kill my point in its tracks.
Pitt running back James Conner got some amazing news yesterday when doctors notified him that he is now completely cancer free following his many rounds of treatment since his diagnoses with Hodgkin lymphoma.
God is AMAZING. Just got the call that my body is clean of cancer!!! Been a long road but God had my back. Thanks everyone who said prayers!
— James Conner ️ (@JamesConner_) May 23, 2016
The news means that Conner went from diagnosed to completely cancer free in just six months, an absolutely amazing feat. I can't wait to see him back at work, even if his future success does come at the expense of Georgia Tech. Guys like him deserve every opportunity to succeed and the fact that he's planning to be ready by week one is nothing short of phenomenal. Congratulations to him.