Pitching is key focus for Patriots
The 2024-25 collegiate baseball season was a solid one for the Northwest Shoals Community College Patriots and head coach David Langston knows what it will take to improve upon their record from a year ago.
If the Patriots hope to go deeper into their conference tournament, and perhaps secure a playoff berth, the key will be on the mound, Langston said.
“Pitching is the area where we will need the most improvement,” Langston said. “We play four conference games in a series and we’re still trying to decide who those other starters are going to be.”
While the Patriots do return a conference game starter in Brody McCain, who appeared in 14 games last season while striking out 38 batters in 55.1 innings pitched, the rest of the team’s rotation is undecided.
Over the offseason, the Patriots landed a commitment from Brady Wilson, a former Auburn Tiger who will hopefully provide meaningful innings on the mound.
“You’re young every year in junior college, but this year we only have one returning pitcher,” Langston said. “We’ve had to navigate that a little bit.”
Leading the charge on offense is Lawson Williams, a sophomore first baseman from Hartselle. While Williams received decent playing time last season, Langston said his lineup figures to be more potent as he gets routine at-bats.
“He had a really good fall for us, and he’s got a solid batting average. He’s popped a few home runs and he’s really kind of the glue of this team,” Langston said. “Offensively, our guys have done a great job scoring runs this season and we’re really strong defensively as well.”
Prior to serving as the Patriots head coach, Langston worked as the pitching coach for the Russellville High School baseball team. Four years later, RHS is still a hotbed for talent as former Golden Tigers Ty Willis (freshman) and Brandt Cummings (redshirt freshman) also figure to play pivotal roles this season.
In addition to posting a 36-23 record for the 20242025 season, the Patriots also had a strong showing in their conference.
The Patriots also boasted a Major League Baseball draft pick in Sam Robertson who was taken in the 17th round by the New York Mets while also having 12 players sign scholarships with four-year programs.
Now in his fourth year – 10th overall – back as head coach of the Patriots, Langston has now gone through four recruiting periods. He said he’s proud of what the program has become since it was reinstated prior to the 2022-23 season and hopes this year will continue to build on the foundation.
“The talent level in the game is probably as strong as it has been in a long time,” Langston said. “I’m looking around the league and the stats and numbers and we’re doing better, and we’ll get to where we want to be eventually.”
