Chatt-a-Hoots Bring Back Four Pitchers From 2021 Squad

Columbus, GA - The Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots are excited to announce their first batch of commitments for the 2022 version of the team.

The Hoots have secured four returning pitchers to come back and play for the Hoots in 2022, all of them now upperclassmen. They are; Slade James, Ryan Middleton, Brian Trepanier, and Clay Weatherly.

Weatherly appeared in 13 games for the Hoots last season including getting the start in game 2 of the championship series against the Alpharetta Aviators. He registered a 1-1 record with a save, a 2.31 ERA and 29 strikeouts to 13 walks in 2021. His best stretch with the Hoots last year saw him go nine consecutive outings (16 innings) without an earned run, and all season he held opposing hitters to a .174 average. Weatherly currently attends Chattahoochee Valley Community College as a junior.

Trepanier returns to Columbus after appearing in 10 games for the Hoots last season. After starting the season clean in his first four appearances, he earned his first start on July 3 against the Aviators. In 23.1 innings in the Sunbelt Baseball League, Trepanier had a 6.17 ERA, striking out 19 and walking 11. Trepanier will be a senior this season at Augusta.

Ryan Middleton will be a junior this season at Union University up in Jackson, Tennessee. Middleton was one of five pitchers to record saves for the Hoots in 2021, and the only pitcher to rack up multiple. Middleton struck out 16 and walked seven in his 16.2 innings of work last season, sporting a 7.02 ERA. 

James comes back to Columbus as a junior at Central Alabama Community College this season. In 13 games he appeared in, James carried a 2-2 record and a save with 19 K's to five walks and a 6.87 ERA. He held opponent hitters last season to .289 and a WHIP of 1.47.

These four pitchers mark the start of the roster build for the 2022 season for Manager Steve Smith and the rest of the Hoots staff. Memberships to see every game at Golden Park in 2022 are available at GoHoots.com