Ranked nationally as a hitter, J.T. Phillips led the district and conference with a .419 batting average. (photo by David Tulis)

By Wade Marbaugh

It wasn’t the finale the Georgia Perimeter College baseball team wanted, but there were definite sweet spots, plus a sugar-coated ending.

The Jaguars’ sophomore shortstop-pitcher John “J.T.” Phillips was selected to the National Junior College Athletic Association 2014 Division 1 All-America First Team. Sophomore pitcher Dustin Beggs, the nation’s strikeout leader, earned a spot on the All-America third team.

Dustin Beggs led the nation in strikeouts with 125, and his 1.65 ERA ranked 14th, first in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. (photo by David Tulis)

Both players (along with three GPC alumni) also were selected in the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Phillips was selected by the Texas Rangers, and Beggs was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. However, Beggs has decided instead to accept a scholarship to pitch for the University of Kentucky.

GPC alumni who were drafted were John Fidanza (Arizona Diamondbacks), Dawson Brown (Oakland Athletics) and John Mark Connell (Los Angeles Angels).

Led by Beggs and Phillips, the Jaguars won 21 straight games and, for the second consecutive year, captured the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season championship.

Georgia Perimeter continued on to win the GCAA tournament with a convincing 13-3 victory over Darton State College in the championship game, then aimed for the East-Central District Tournament, held at GPC Newton Campus. The winner of the district tourney advances to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

Beggs struck out 10 to win GPC’s district opener, but Columbia State Community College (Tenn.) shut out the Jaguars 5-0, and Darton State College eliminated GPC with a surprising 9-0 shutout.

The Jaguars finished the season ranked No. 7 nationally with a 44-14 record, 29-5 in the GCAA.

Phillips was named the GCAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He also was named to the East-Central All-District Team and the district Gold Glove Team.

“J.T. is one of the best JUCO [junior college] players in the country,” says GPC head coach Brett Campbell. “He brings so much to the table.”

Beggs struck out 125 batters to lead the nation and the conference, and he also was named to the All-GCAA First Team and the all-district team.

“Dustin had a tremendous year,” Campbell says. “I’d venture to say he either set the record or is in the top three for strikeouts in a season at GPC.”

Freshman left fielder LaDonis Bryant (.371 average, 43 stolen bases, no errors in the field) also was selected to the All-GCAA First Team, the GCAA Gold Glove Team and was named to the East-Central All-District Team.

Speedy freshman center fielder London Lindley (tied for fourth in the nation with 44 stolen bases) was named to the all-conference second team, as was sophomore catcher Jerad Curry (second in the GCAA with 50 runs batted in).

Joe Marlow, a sophomore pitcher, earned the GCAA tournament MVP award and was joined on the GCAA All-Tournament team by Lindley, Curry and sophomore first baseman Matt Taylor.

Campbell collected the GCAA Coach of the Year Award for the second straight year.

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