By Erik Harris, sports editor
AUBURN — Former Hewitt-Trussville pitcher and current Auburn University junior Carson Skipper is off to a strong start this season.
The 6’3” lefty has appeared in four games for the Tigers, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out five batters in five innings of work. His efforts have grabbed national attention, as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) recently named Skipper to its Stopper of the Year watch list.
Since 2005, the honor has been presented annually to the nation’s top relief pitcher. Only two Southeastern Conference players have claimed the honor: Georgia’s Joshua Fields in 2008 and Florida’s Michael Byrne in 2018.
Skipper is one of 45 players named to this year’s preseason watch list, including 10 SEC arms. The NCBWA will narrow the field on April 28 with a midseason watch list.
Skipper earned first-team all-state honors as a senior for the Huuskies in 2018, and has since gone for 55 strikeouts in 28 career appearances at Auburn.