April 25, 2014
RALEIGH, N.C. – Georgia Tech freshman Connor Justus is one of 35 shortstops nationally to be named to the initial watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, which is presented annually to the best shortstop in college baseball.
Complete Brooks Wallace Award Watch List
Justus, a rookie from Cartersville, Ga., has stepped into Tech’s starting role and put up impressive numbers both offensively and defensively. He is fielding .963 for the season (a sparkling .990 in ACC games) and recently played a streak of 24 consecutive error-free games.
He’s part of a defense that leads the nation in double plays, as the Jackets have turned 51 this season.
At the plate, Justus is hitting .300 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs and 21 RBI. He accounted for game-winning hits in a pair of ACC wins over No. 22 Miami (a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning) that won the series, and a 13th-inning RBI single that gave Tech the lead for good in a win at No. 13 North Carolina.
He was named the ACC Player of the Week helping Tech win a series over No. 1 Florida State in early April. Justus is hitting .325 (13-for-40) versus Top 25 opponents this season.
Justus is one of six shortstops in the ACC to earn mention on the initial list, and is one of nine freshmen on the list.
Georgia Tech is 25-17 overall, 11-10 in the ACC, and begins a key conference series at NC State Friday night.
