University of Southern Indiana Baseball junior third-baseman Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) and senior pitcher Justin Watts (Bryan, Ohio) were named as a Player and a Newcomer to Watch for the 2017 season in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Griggs enters the 2017 season as a Player to Watch after earning a spot on the NCAA II Midwest Regional All-Tournament team in 2016. As a sophomore, Griggs batted .342 and led the Screaming Eagles with 81 hits, 51 RBI’s, and 41 runs scored. Griggs also was second on the team in homeruns with seven and fourth in doubles with 13.
Watts was named a Newcomer to Watch after transferring to USI after two seasons at Northern Kentucky. Prior to competing for NKU, Watts played one season for Lincoln Trail College. Watts finished his two years at NKU with a 3-9 record and a 6.57 ERA, posting 89 strikeouts in 100 innings of work. During his stint at Lincoln Trail, Watts had a 1-1 record with a 5.84 ERA and one save as a freshman.
The Eagles start the 2017 campaign on the road with a three-game series against second-ranked University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida, February 17-19.
