Two Lexington players commit to UK baseball

Cats get LCA'S Townsend, Creek's Gott

By Mike Fields / mfields@herald-leader.com

Lexington Christian senior shortstop Tyler Townsend and Tates Creek junior pitcher/infielder Trevor Gott have committed to play baseball at the University of Kentucky.

Townsend, a key to the Eagles' rise to the No. 1 rating this spring, will be a preferred walk-on at UK next season.

He had orally committed to Carson-Newman in Tennessee, but he changed his mind when UK talked to him.

Townsend hit .340 with 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in helping LCA to a 30-8 record. The Eagles were upset by Bryan Station in the region semifinals.

Townsend hopes to follow in the footsteps of former LCA infield stars Andy Green and Chris Wade, who went on to start at UK. Green played in the late 1990s; Wade is the Cats' current shortstop.

"I talked to Chris the other night about all this," Townsend said. "I'm very excited and really looking forward to it."

Gott, who helped the Commodores to a No. 4 ranking and 24-9 record, will sign with UK this fall as part of the 2010 recruiting class.

A first-team All-City selection as a sophomore, Gott followed it up with a successful season this spring. The hard-throwing right-hander had a 3-1 pitching record, and a 1.12 ERA, with 48 strikeouts and 10 walks in 31 innings.

He also played third base and hit .382 with 26 runs and 19 RBI. The Commodores lost to Lexington Catholic in the district tournament.

Vaughn Gott, Trevor's dad, said his son picked UK over Louisville because this is his hometown and "he feels the SEC is the best conference."

Even though Gott's pitching ability — especially his 90-mph fastball — is what colleges like the most, his dad said UK will give him the chance to be an everyday player, too.