BRETT AUSTIN SWINGS FOR SUCCESS WITH THE PROVIDENCE PANTHERS

With a sweet swing and the dedication to be the best baseball player possible, 14 year old Brett Austin has all the tools to be a success on the diamond.  The rising ninth grade son of Bill and Sherilette Austin is on pace to develop into a successful player at Providence High School. 

After a busy summer of baseball, Brett will carry his catching gear and bat to the Providence Panthers dugout next season.  The past few weeks, Brett has spent time playing with the 16U South Charlotte Panthers Showcase team.  Head Coach Don Hutchins felt strong enough about Brett’s abilities to add him to the roster for an 18U tournament at Wake Forest University.

Brett has also played with the Carolina Cubs this summer in addition to working out on a near daily basis at Carolinas Baseball Center.  

“I try to work out every day, I am always swinging a bat,” said Brett. “Jeff Schaefer and all the staff at CBC have really helped me this summer.  I have also been doing SPARQ Training with Nate Craig, which has really helped.”

Brett is like a lot of kids in the area; he started out playing tee ball and then moved over to The Olde Providence Recreation Association for little league play. With each year, his talent level grew.   He learned to become a switch hitter, batting from the right side for contact and left side for power.

As a nine year old Brett traveled to play in the Cooperstown Dreams Tournament and became the youngest player at the time to ever hit a home run in the event.   At age 12, he returned to Cooperstown with the Greensboro Batting Center and the team won their Tournament.

This spring, Brett helped South Charlotte Middle School win their conference championship.  Brett’s batting average was just under .450 with two home runs.

The baseball talent seems to run in the Austin family.  Brett’s Dad, Bill played baseball at UNC-Wilmington.  His older brother, Chase, a South Meck graduate, hit for a .337 average as a freshman at Elon this spring.

Brett hopes to find a balance between academics and baseball at Providence.  While at South Charlotte Middle, he was an A/B Honor Roll student.

The baseball talent pool is deep here in South Charlotte, and Brett Austin is right at the top of the list of talented high school freshman.  As one local baseball talent scout told us, keep an eye on this kid, he has all the tools it takes to be a pro!