By Sarah Thompson
BALTIMORE -- A dream became a reality for former Frederick Community College NJCAA All-American shortstop Jett Manning earlier this month, as he was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round (586 overall) in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
After breaking former Cougar and now 16th round pick up Chris Mattison's record of 33 stolen bases, Manning continued to play at the University of Alabama, where he started all 53 games for the Crimson Tide this season.
The talented shortstop ranked fourth on the team in hits with 45 and finished this season with a .251 batting average. Manning tied for fourth in multi-hit games with 10 and recorded a pair of five-game hitting streaks throughout the season for the Crimson Tide.
Zach Guth was another student-athlete whose dreams are closer to fruition, as the 6-foot-3 lefty was selected in the 26th round of the MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves.
Guth played at Harford Community College this past season and went 10-0 with a 2.57 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .136 batting average against him.
He had several shutouts throughout the season, including an 11 strikeout performance in five innings at College of Southern Maryland. Guth also took the mound in the first game of the NJCAA Region XX Division I Tournament and earned the win against rival Potomac State in his final start as a Fighting Owl.
If Guth chooses not to sign with the Braves, he will commit to NCAA Division I University of Houston.
Former Montgomery College star Jameson McGrane is also closer to realizing his dream, as earlier this month he signed a contract with the Miami Marlins.
McGrane according to the Florence Freedom, earned his spot for the Miami Marlins after a strong showing at the Frontier League Tryout Camp and Draft, where he was selected for Florence in the second round. McGrane threw nine and one third innings that game, fanning 19 batters, while walking just four.
Portions of this article were contributed to by Frederick Community College Athletics and Harford Community College Athletics; in addition to information cited from The Florence Freedom.
