COLLEGE BASEBALL
Former Warrior transferring from ETSU to Milligan
BY TREY WILLIAMS Press Sports Writer twilliams@johnsoncitypress.com
Former Happy Valley player Todd Caldwell announced his transfer from East Tennessee State to Milligan College Thursday.
The former Watauga Conference Player of the Year was a weekend starter on the mound as a freshman this past season at ETSU, but didn't like not also getting to be a position player. The 6-foot-1 left-hander went 2-2 with a 5.29 ERA, starting eight of the 13 games in which he appeared.
"I was recruited to play both and it kind of bothered me that I wasn't really given that chance," Caldwell said. "It was a big reason I decided to go to ETSU. I was headed to Walters State, which had just won a national championship."
Now he's headed back to Carter County. He'll be reunited at Milligan with former high school teammate Ricky Morgan.
"Me and Ricky Morgan have played together since we were nine years old," Caldwell said. "We even got drafted on the same Johnson City Babe Ruth team."
Milligan coach Nathan Meade, who'll enter his second season next year, says Caldwell is the prime catch in a deep recruiting class.
"I'm not going to lie, I was a little bit surprised when he said he was coming," Meade said. "We're pretty excited about getting a Todd Caldwell. He's an impact player. You can't just go out and get nine of those guys."
Meade said Caldwell will play outfield and pitch for the Buffs.
"I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again," Meade said, "but I saw him play in high school and thought he was just as good swinging as he was pitching."
Former Happy Valley coach Greg Hyder said Caldwell hit .600 his senior season. As it turned out, Caldwell hit .500 his freshman season at ETSU.
"The one game I hit against UNC Asheville, I went 2-for-4," Caldwell said with a chuckle.
Things got off to an ominous start at ETSU when pitching coach Mac McClarrinon left before the season started. McClarrinon recruited Caldwell and was the one to build a relationship.
"What's funny is Coach Mac was actually always saying, 'Me and Coach Skole are fighting over you,'" Caldwell said. "So I was pretty sure Coach Skole wanted me to hit too."
While Caldwell said he never had a personal riff with Skole, he did mention third baseman Tanner Moore and shortstop Justin Tramble, fellow freshmen starters, also not returning to ETSU next season. Neither will pitcher Jonathan Stoudt, who Caldwell would like to see turn up at Milligan.
"He's topped out at 93 mph," Caldwell said.
Caldwell is looking forward to playing with the Buffs' Spencer Street and Brandon Murphy, who've played travel ball with him for Pappy Crowe.
Caldwell is playing for Crowe's Tri-Cities Optimist this summer, as are Milligan teammates such as Morgan and Toby Hoyle.
"Pappy said the championship game of the (19-under) Dizzy Dean World Series is going to be on ESPN2," Caldwell said. "I'm looking forward to playing for him this summer."
He said the same thing about Milligan's Meade.
"I do feel like a weight's been lifted off of me," Caldwell said. "I'm so excited. Milligan's a great school and Coach Meade and Coach (Joel) Mangrum have been nothing but great to me.
"I'm sure there are a lot of guys that think I'm stupid for turning down the opportunity of being a Division I weekend starter as a freshman. But when you're dreading going to the ballpark, when you're sitting and thinking 'When I get out of this class I've got to go to practice,' something has to change."
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