Monday, June 14, 2010

Cuthrell signs with Barton College

Rocky Mount senior Collins Cuthrell signs to play baseball for Barton College next season. Seated with Cuthrell are (front, l-r) are father J.C., sister Hunter and mother Dawn. Standing in the rear are RMHS athletic director Mike Gainey and head baseball coach Kent Cox. (Photo/David Hahula) - Click on picture to enlarge

Thursday was a big day for Rocky Mount senior Collins Cuthrell.

The two-sport star decided to concentrate on one sport at the next level as he signed to play baseball at Div. II Barton College in Wilson.

He is the third Gryphon in this decade to play of the Bulldogs (Michael Parker, RMHS Class of '03, Will Johnson, '05). Both became starters in the program.

Cuthrell had entertained ideas of playing both baseball and football at Div. III and USA South Conference member Methodist University, a fellow league member with N.C. Wesleyan College. But he felt that playing both would be problematic with all the preparation required for both sports.

Cuthrell led the Gryphon baseball team with a school-record of home runs (7), RBI (27) and runs scored (29) while batting .385, second highest average on the team. A three-year starter (third base and shortstop), he concluded his career with a .333 batting average (81-for-233), knocked in 67 runs (second all-time behind Ben Fish's 82) and scored 70 runs.

He also piled up 10 career home runs - just one behind Fish's career mark of 11.

His stats on the gridiron were impressive, too.

He amassed up just over 2,500 yards passing to rank third all-time in yardage behind Terrell Hudgins and Eddie Coats. He also tossed 16 touchdown passes in completing 51 percent of his attempts. He helped guide the Gryphons to a 21-6 record in his two seasons as the starting quarterback.

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