KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers announced today the additions of three players from Ohio State University. Brady Cherry, a freshman third baseman, Tre’ Gantt, a sophomore outfielder, and Austin Woodby, a sophomore pitcher, will join the team for the 2016 season.
Brady Cherry: 6’1’’ – 200lb, 3B, Bats/R. Throws/R, Ohio State (Fr.), Pendleton, Ind.
Cherry is a 6’1, 200 pound native of Pendleton, Indiana. He has had a respectable freshman campaign thus far, appearing in 35 games and making 31 starts, while hitting .232. As of May 5, Cherry has knocked in 23 runs, and has hit five home runs along with four doubles and two triples to total a .438 slugging percentage. He has also scored 16 runs and drawn 16 walks. Cherry was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on February 29 after going 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and two runs scored in a 6-4 win at then Number 19 Coastal Carolina on February 27. Cherry also had a three-hit outing against UNLV on March 12, while totaling four RBI, two runs and a triple. Cherry also hit his first career grand slam and totaled a season-high five RBI in a comeback win over Xavier on March 22. To this point, Cherry has seven multi-hit games and four multi-RBI performances. A standout in the classroom as well, Cherry has been named an OSU Scholar-Athlete.
Cherry attended Lapel High School where he was an All-State selection in 2014 and 2015, earning All-County honors for three years and County MVP in 2014 and 2015. In his senior season, Cherry hit .505 with nine homers and 41 RBI in route to leading Lapel to its second sectional championship in three years. Cherry also pitched for the Bulldogs, going 10-2 with a 1.28 ERA and striking out 125 batters in 76 1/3 innings. He posted four shutouts and a no-hitter, and for his efforts, was named The Herald Bulletin’s Baseball Pitcher of the Year. Cherry was named the Herald Bulletin Baseball Player of the Year three times in his high school career and he is the only athlete ever to receive the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year awards in a single season, which he accomplished his senior year. As a junior, Cherry batted .471 with six homers and 30 RBI, en route to being named The Herald Bulletin Player of the Year. Those numbers followed a breakout sophomore campaign in which Cherry hit .396 with six homers, 26 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Following his sophomore season he chose to commit to Ohio State. Cherry was a three-sport athlete at Lapel, as in addition to baseball he starred on the Lapel Basketball team for three years and played quarterback for a team that won their first sectional championship in six years in his senior season. As a result of his accomplishments, Cherry received the prestigious Johnny Wilson award his senior season, designated for a student-athlete who excels in one sport each season, and earns a varsity letter for at least two years in each sport. He was the first Lapel athlete to ever receive the award.
Tre’ Gantt: 5’10’’ – 180lb, OF, Bats/L, Throws/L, Ohio State (So.), Fishers, Ind.
Gantt is a 5’10, 180 pound native of Fishers, Indiana. In his freshman season with the Buckeyes, Gantt appeared in 37 games, making 17 starts, and he batted .311 with 14 runs scored, a double, a triple and eight RBI. Gantt went 2-for-3 in his first collegiate start against Louisville and had seven multi-hit games for the season. He also stole five bases and walked eight times. In his sophomore campaign, Gantt has appeared in 29 games for the Buckeyes making 20 starts as of May 4. He is currently batting .224 with 12 runs scored, five doubles, eight RBI, eight walks and four stolen bases. Gantt has had a few breakout games including a 3-for-5 performance at UNLV on March 12, in which he had two doubles and scored three runs. He also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double in the series finale against UNLV on March 15. Gantt has been impressive in the outfield, collecting 32 putouts with no errors. He made an incredible leaping catch against Illinois on April 13 that was one of the plays of the season thus far for the Buckeyes.
Gantt is a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School where he batted .371 with nine RBI and 26 runs scored as a senior. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Region Central Team. As a junior, Gantt was sensational, hitting .411 while totaling 28 RBI with four home runs, four triples, 13 doubles, and 35 runs scored. He was an honorable mention all-state selection and an HCC All-Conference selection for his efforts. Additionally, in 2013 he was also named the Times/Hare Chevrolet All-County Player of the Year, the Hamilton County Sports Daily Player of the Year and was named to the Indianapolis Start Super Team.
Austin Woodby: 6’1’’ – 185lb, RHP, Ohio State (RS So.), Springboro, Ohio
Woodby is a 6’1, 185 pound native of Springboro, Ohio. Woodby transferred to Ohio State from Cincinnati, where he spent his freshman season. In his freshman campaign in 2014, Woodby made 14 relief appearances for the Bearcats, throwing 33 innings and compiling 20 strikeouts against just seven walks.
After redshirting last season, Woodby has found his form in his sophomore year with Ohio State, and as of May 4, he has a 5-1 record with a 4.35 ERA in 15 appearances with two starts. Woodby is currently tied for the team lead with five wins. Woodby notched a season-high five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of work in a win at then No. 19 Coastal Carolina on February 29. Woodby also tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while claiming his first win as a starter against Morehead State on April 12. He also picked up his then team-best fifth win of the season against his former team, as a he threw two scoreless frames against Cincinnati on April 19. To this point, Woodby has thrown 35 innings, collecting 25 strikeouts against 11 walks.
A 2013 graduate of Springboro High School, Woodby was a two-time All-Greater Western Ohio Conference first two member in his junior and senior seasons. He was also a two-time recipient of the GWOC Scholar Athlete Award in those respective years. Woodby was also named the Springboro Pitcher of the Year in his junior and senior seasons and was a two-time GWOC South Conference champion in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Woodby excelled with the bat as well, hitting .320 for his career at Springboro. In his senior season on the mound, Woodby collected 52 strikeouts with a 2.48 ERA and had 44 strikeouts with a 1.63 ERA during his junior season.
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