Experienced Infielders Eager to Lead Baseball in 2025

Returning three of its four infield starters, including a key double-play combination, from last season’s NAIA Avista World Series semifinalist team has the 2025 Georgia Gwinnett College baseball squad eager to hit the diamond and continue the program’s success this spring.

Seniors Jackson Cobb (shortstop), Braxton Meguiar (second base) and Paul Winland Jr. (third base) garnered all-Continental Athletic Conference honors in 2024. Then, senior Kyle Norton returns to Lawrenceville after being the primary starter at first base during the 2023 campaign.

GGCAthletics.com continues its preseason position preview series by examining the infielders. The Grizzlies are scheduled to begin the season by hosting Huntington University (Indiana) and Midway University (Kentucky) on Friday, January 31, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

Meguiar is set to start his fourth season on the right side of Grizzlies’ infield, starting 178 of 180 games – collecting 254 hits, 246 runs, 52 doubles, and seven triples and posting a .394 career batting average. The Auburn, Kentucky, native matched his career high with 90 runs scored and hitting three home runs last spring. He batted .380 in 62 games and collected 66 RBI.

Cobb played a significant role in GGC advancing to the NAIA World Series for the sixth consecutive season. The shortstop batted .385 behind 74 hits and had eight triples while starting 58 games in 2024. 

Cobb’s bases-clearing double in the ninth inning tied last season’s Lawrenceville Bracket championship game against Faulkner University (Alabama). He later scored the winning run on a base hit from Winland Jr.

Also, Cobb provided to be a steady defensive influence on the left side of the infield last season, with 52 putouts and assisting on another 106 plays while contributing to 28 double plays.

Winland Jr. returns to occupy the hot corner at third base. He hit .342 while having 14 home runs – one of six players with double-digit round trippers. Winland Jr. also brought home 87 runs, had 13 doubles and four triples, and stole 25 bases in his first season in the Green and Gray.  

“Anytime you return your shortstop, especially one (Jackson) who shined at the end of last season, that’s a huge advantage for us for this year. Paul also is coming off a strong season and has improved defensively,” said Sheetinger.

Norton started 52 of the 53 games he played at first base while batting .349 with 16 doubles and 46 RBI for the Grizzlies during the 2023 season.

“Kyle is one of the best defensive first basemen in the country and we’re excited to have him back with us this season,” noted Sheetinger.

The veteran coach also is excited about newcomers who will provide depth across all of the infield positions. Seniors Zayd Brannigan and Scott Seeker bring NCAA Division I experience, and junior Tyler M. Martin comes to Lawrenceville with significant college credentials.

Meanwhile, juniors Joe Mrowiec and Daniel Stephens bring versatility and athleticism to positions in the infield and outfield, and freshman Jacob Bohacek rounds out the new faces on the 2025 season.

“Scott is a power left-handed bat with the ability to play first base and be a designated hitter. Zayd was a Division I starter whose experience and defensive skills are something that we’ll lean upon this season,” said Sheetinger.