Bruins duo making trip down to LaGrange College

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June 11, 2012

Bruins duo making trip down to LaGrange College

By Devin Golden devingolden@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Mon Jun 11, 2012, 07:01 AM EDT

Heading to college on your own can be tough.

Lucky for Nick Stavrow and Matt Allen, they will go together.

The two Northwest Whitfield baseball players and 2012 graduates have chosen to attend and play baseball at LaGrange College, a Division III school located in LaGrange. It is known for being the oldest private college in Georgia, according to the school’s website.

Per NCAA rules, Division III schools cannot offer athletic scholarships, however, both Allen, a pitcher, and Stavrow, a third baseman, received an academic scholarship from the school.

“We both actually got the highest amount of academic money they can offer,” Allen said, noting the scholarship was around half the tuition.

The pair “pretty much went through (the process) together,” Stavrow said. They visited the campus once together and went to two games together, once being able to sit in the dugout with the team. Stavrow attributed his decision to wanting to continue playing baseball while Allen said he fell in love with the campus.

While Stavrow made his official decision before Allen, the pitcher said LaGrange was the leader for a while and his decision was made independent. But Stavrow said he and Allen have been friends since elementary school, and he’s fortunate the friendship will continue.

“It’s great being able to go up there with him,” Stavrow said. “We’ve always played baseball together and we get to keep doing that.”

Allen agreed. Beginning a new part of life, new school and team with a friend isn’t a bad thing.

“It definitely helps having a roommate and stuff who you already know,” he said.

Bruins coach Todd Middleton said Stavrow and Allen are a close pair and have been so for a long time. Continuing the friendship only makes sense.

“It definitely makes them a little more comfortable and a little more at ease already knowing someone there,” Middleton said.

Allen finished 1-3 on the year, struck out 35 in 43 2/3 innings and had a 3.37 ERA. Stavrow hit .312 with nine extra-base hits, 15 RBIs and six strikeouts. Middleton nominated both players for The Daily Citizen’s 2012 All-Area team. Northwest finished the season 15-11 overall and 11-9 in Region 7-4A play, the program’s first winning season since 2008.

“Matt was one of our top pitchers this year. He had a great senior year. He did a good job and was real consistent this year,” Middleton said. “Nick had the highest batting average on the team. He led us there and ended up being pretty solid at third. I’m proud of them and pretty proud of all the seniors for finishing up this year the way we did.”

The Panthers, part of the Great South Athletic Conference, finished 2012 17-27 overall and 5-7 in conference play. According to the school’s athletic website, only one senior, a first baseman, was on the 2012 roster.

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Bruins duo making trip down to LaGrange College

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