Trion High School Alumnus Gabe Howell now with the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies won the NAIA National Championship. Howell was also selected as the Golden Glove recipient for best defensive player.
Georgia Gwinnett College won 22 of its last 23 games to cap off the 2021 season with the program’s first national championship.
The 2021 Avista NAIA World Series championship banner is headed to Lawrenceville as the Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team captured the program’s first national championship Thursday night with an 8-4 victory over Central Methodist University (Missouri) in Lewiston, Idaho.
The Grizzlies (51-10), the tournament’s No. 5 seed, won all five of their World Series games, outscoring opponents by a 52-30, hit nine home runs, and got five quality starting pitching assignments to capture the title in the first championship round appearance.
The Grizzlies broke things open with four runs in the sixth inning. Senior Gabe Howell hit a RBI single to center field.
GGC is the first baseball national collegiate baseball champion from Georgia since 2002 when Columbus State University captured the NCAA Division II title. It is the fourth time a Georgia team has won the NAIA national baseball championship and first since 1997 when Brewton-Parker College earned the championship banner.
About Howell:
CAREER:
* 2020 All-Association of Independent Institutions team selection
* Started all 25 games at shortstop during the 2020 season
* Connected on six home runs
* Batted .359 with 25 hits in 2020
* Recorded 15 stolen bases
* Scored 30 runs and drove in 26 runs
* Legged out five doubles and two triples
* Posted a .705 slugging percentage in 2020
PRIOR TO GGC:
* Earned first all-state team honors at Trion HIgh School (Ga.)
* Helped lead high school team to a state finals runner-up finish
* Named Player of the Year in high school
* Attended Bryan College (Tenn.)
PERSONAL:
* Son of Michael and Lori Howell
