Former Baylor standout Dylan Craig is one of the Belmont baseball players
with local ties who have helped the Bruins earn their first NCAA tournament
spot.
Contributed PhotoNCAA baseball participantsAustin PeayJon Clinard (Bradley Central), Junior, IF/OFHit .333 with 15 stolen bases in 34 gamesZane Leffew (Soddy-Daisy), Junior, RPPitched in 15 inningsBelmontChase Brookshire (McCallie), Sophomore, SPWent 5-4 with a 3.52 ERA in a team-high 94 2/3 innings with 66 strikeouts.Dylan Craig (Baylor), Junior, CFHit .324 with a team-high six triplesGeorgia TechMott Hyde (Calhoun), Freshman, IFStarted 59 games and hit .288 with four HRs and 46 RBIsJarrett Didrick (Calhoun), Junior, OFHit .200 in limited action
Dylan Craig and Chase Brookshire were high school rivals, but they’re now history-making teammates.
They’ll be at Vanderbilt tonight when Belmont makes its first appearance in the NCAA baseball tournament after capturing its first Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. The regional game, which starts at 8, is sold out.
“I guess I’m most excited about being in the tournament although I’m obviously excited about playing Vanderbilt,” said outfielder Craig, an all-state player at Baylor.
Craig bats second behind senior captain Derek Hamblen, who lived in Ooltewah before moving with his family to Plano, Texas. His grandparents and many other relatives live in the Chattanooga area.