What would you say is the best way, as a freshman, to gain the respect of your new teammates and coaches?

Ask UNC-Wilmington freshman baseball player Jonathan Batts. He seems to have the answer. After the first 19 games of the regular sesason, Batts, an infielder, at one point lead the Colonial Athletic Association with a .452 batting average. hitting safely in 16 of his first 19 games. Curretnly, the freshman boasts a .415 batting average and is tied for the team lead in doubles with 10. Recently Batts earned CAA Player of the Week by the CAA and co-national hitter of the week by the National College Baseball Writers Association after batting 11-14 with two homeruns and seven RBI in a weekend series against Kent State. During that stretch Batts also tied a UNCW record for hits in a game when he went 5-for-5 in the final game against Kent State, hitting the game-winning home run. “Coming in, I just wanted to get a starting position. I never thought I would be conference player of the week,” Batts said. “I knew I could play in college and I’m just seeing the ball really well right now, but it is amazing I am doing this well.” One person that isn’t surprised by Batts’ success is Seahawks coach Mark Scalf. “It’s not a surprise. We felt like when we recruited Jon, he was going to swing the bat well,” Scalf said. “Our only question was whether not we were going to be able to get him in the lineup defensively, but he has worked hard and made himself much better in the field and that helps us tremendously because we have to have his bat in the lineup.” That working hard has really paid off. Not only has Batts been tearing the cover off of the ball he is also versatile in the field. He has already played as a first, second and third baseman for Seahawks making himself available wherever he is needed. Which brings a little hometown success. Batts is a Wilmington-native who graduated from Topsail High School and is obviously having no problem making the transition from high school to college. “In college, I see much better pitching than in high school and that gives me a challenge,” Batts said. “I want to go out there and hit off the best that each team’s got.” But Batts knows he’s making a big switch from high school to collegiate ball. “The games are more intense,” Batts said. “If you don’t do your job at the plate or on the field those few runs can cost you. The pitching is a lot better and the hitters are good (in positions) one through nine.” The team realizes the potential that Batts holds and they believe that his early success is not a fluke. Big things will be expected of him for the rest of his college career. “Batts is unbelievable,” senior outfielder Chip Grawey said. “The kid is raw talent, he has a perfect swing and he is just feeling it right now. The kid has it.”