Boyd-Buchanan senior John Sewell has signed a combination academic/athletic scholarship to play baseball at Freed-Hardeman University. Sewell is seated, front, and surrounded by family members.
It’s not a surprise that Boyd-Buchanan’s John Sewell has decided to further his baseball career at Freed Hardeman University.
Why?
Sewell is a darn good left-handed pitcher/first baseman.
His grandfather, Dr., Milton Sewell, was formerly the president at Freed Hardeman from 1990-2008 and still is a chancellor at the university in Henderson, Tenn.
His father, Shannon, is a FHU alumnus.
His mother, Karen, graduated from Shorter College where she played basketball and got her master’s degree at, you guessed it, FHU.
“We’re a tight-knit family and I already had a feel for the campus when I visited in October,” John Sewell said Tuesday.
“I’ve been around Freed Hardeman all my life.”
And, one more thing.
Sewell considered Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and Maryville (Tenn.) College.
Eventually, Sewell narrowed his choices to FHU and Harding.
He chose FHU, a member of the NAIA TranSouth Athletic Conference, and signed with the Lions on Monday.
What was the deciding factor for Sewell, aside from the strong family connection?
“Freed Hardeman offered me (a scholarship) and Harding didn’t,” he said.
Sewell will receive a combination academic/athletic scholarship – weighted heavily toward academics – to pitch for Lions coach Johnathan Estes, who is entering his sixth season at the Henderson, Tenn., school. Sewell is expected to play some at first base with the Lions.
“I would rather pitch,” Sewell said, “but I really like playing first base, too. Freed’s baseball program has really been successful lately. Last year they had 10 of 20 player of the week (honors) in the TranSouth Conference.”
Boyd-Buchanan coach Josh Rider is likely to use Sewell in a dual role this coming season as well.
“He’s going to be in our four-man rotation,” said Rider, who graduated from FHU in 2004. “And he’s going to have the opportunity to play first base and I want to use him some as our designated hitter. Offensively, he bats right-handed and has some pop in his bat and drives the ball to the outfield. I think he’s has the potential to hit with power and fill that void left by Jim Cardwell and Nathan Murrell when they (graduated).”
As a junior, Sewell posted a 1-1 record with 2.30 ERA. He played this fall with Turner Baseball Academy and had a 1-1 record and 2.86 ERA in five appearances.
“John is 6-3, left-handed and a kid with a lot of potential,” Rider said. “That’s hard for a college coach to turn down.”
What does Sewell want to achieve in his senior season with the Bucs?
“I want us to have fun and go as far as we can in the playoffs,” he said. “I want to come back with a (championship) ring.”
The Bucs reached the 2013 Class A state tournament, but was eliminated in a 13-5 loss to Goodpasture. Sewell was the starting pitcher in that game.
Earlier the same day, Boyd-Buchanan was beaten by Jackson Christian, 6-1, to set up the win-or-go-home showdown against Goodpasture.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)