Junior center fielder Mark Micowski is used to the cold and snow. It came with the territory during his playing days at the University of Vermont. But Micowski never thought he would have to play in the cold and snow after he transferred to Georgia State.
“It’s been a big transition, playing outside in the cold this season,” Micowski said.
Micowski said Vermont had anindoor practice facility for its baseball team and the team never practiced in extreme cold temperatures. But Georgia State has. Micowski also said the Vermont didn’t play many cold weather games. But Georgia State has.
Micowski's clutch hitting and heads-up defense have allowed his teammates to warm up to him after the first six games.
Micowski is batting .348, the only Panthers starter with an average better than .300. He also has a .938 fielding percentage on a team that made 14 errors in an 0-6 start.
Micowski has a simple hitting philosophy.
“My theory is to get the first fastball and be on it, because later in the count, you’re going to see more off-speed stuff,” he said.
Micowski’s defense stems from his natural athletic ability and good glove skills. Playing well has helped him ease the transition of playing in a new town at a new school.
“It’s definitely been a big challenge, being a long way away from home,” Micowski said. “I’m used to the winter.”
Men’s golf
Junior Alex Castro said a new swing technique was the reason he finished tied for ninth with teammate Tom Sherreard at the Seahawk Intercollegiate in Wilmington, N.C., on Tuesday.
Castro shot a 75-70--145, 1-over par on the 7,058-yard Dye Course at the Country Club of Landfall. The finish was the best of his collegiate career. He also had the low round for Georgia State.
Castro said his coaches tried to get him to correct his downswing by using his motion for hitting a cut shot and it was just the adjustment he needed. He remembered the technique during the middle of his first round and it helped him finish strong.
“The technique changed the flight of the ball and everything,” he said. “Now I have good trajectory through the wind.”
Women’s golf
The Panthers finished second at the two-day University of Central Florida Challenge on Tuesday. Georgia State shot a 31-over 895, two shots behind Texas A&M.
Georgia State sophomore Charlotte Lorentzen finished tied for fourth with a 2-over 218. Lorentzen said weather was a big factor.
“I thought I played well, especially in the first round,” Lorentzen said. “In the last round the wind started up badly. The last day was not a day to shoot low. The first day was perfect conditions.”
The tournament was Georgia State’s second consecutive second-place finish.
"We have a tremendous amount of talent," Panthers coach Cathy Mant said. "As a team we're very consistent."