Matthew Mitchell has served as an assistant coach on the Averett baseball staff since August 2012.
In 2013, while working with the pitching staff, Mitchell helped guide Averett's pitchers to multiple accolades. Three Cougars earned USA South Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, one was named USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week and one was selected t othe D3Baseball.com Team of the Week. Averett's pitching staff limited opponents to a .260 batting average while allowing 346 hits. The Cougars allowed the second fewest runs in the conference and led the conference in fewest earned runs allowed amd fewest walks allowed. Averett was fifth in strikeouts. In 2014, Averett had two USA South Pitchers of the Week, two USA South Rookie Pitchers of the Week, one D3Baseball.com Team of the Week selection and one USA South All-Conference selection.
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A native of Hampton, Va., Mitchell played four seasons for the Cougars from 2009-2012 as an infielder and pitcher. He appeared in 114 games, batting .244 for his career with 54 runs scored and 50 RBIs. On the mound, he compiled an 8-5 record with three saves with a 3.45 earned run average in 109.2 innings. As a senior, Mitchell earned USA South All-Conference Honorable Mention honors at second base and was Averett's representative on the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team. As a junior he was named to USA South All-Conference Second Team at second base. Mitchell was also a USA South Academic All-Conference performer.
Mitchell has gained baseball coaching experience through helping at his alma mater, Hampton High Shool, as well as several other coaching internships. During the summer, he has served as an assistant coach for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plains League since 2012. The Pilots' 2012 team featured six players who were drafted by major league teams. In 2013, Mitchell served as the Pilots' third base coach and offensive coordinator for the second half of the season as the team finished 19-9 in the second half en route to the 2013 Coastal Plains League Petitt Cup championship. The Pilots produced for all-stars and finished in the top half of the league in batting average, on base percentage, slugging, hits, runs batted in, runs scored, walks, triples and stolen bases. Mitchell returned as the third base coach and offensive coordinator for the Pilots in 2014, helping guide Peninsula to the East Division championship in the first half and second half of the season. The Pilots finished 48-18 overall and won their second consecutive CPL Pettit Cup. The 2014 Pilots defeated the Team USA College National Team, won the CPL Home Run Derby and featured seven all-stars. The team finished in the top half of the league in batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, hits and walks while leading the CPL in runs batted in, runs scored, triples and stolen bases.
Mitchell graduated from Averett in May 2012 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and coaching. He is currently working toward his master's in education from Averett.
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