EVERETT — It turns out Everett Community College’s baseball team had a Major League Baseball draft prospect sitting on its bench all season.
Outfielder Noah Williamson, who appeared in just four games for the Trojans and had one at bat, was selected Tuesday by the Miami Marlins in the 19th round of the draft.
Everett athletic director Garet Studer explained that Williamson, who hails from Las Vegas, was a late addition after his California junior college, Santa Barbara City College, had its second-consecutive season canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Then-coach JoJo Howie told Williamson he could practice with the team, but that he remained committed to the players who had been with the team the entire school year.
“Jojo knew (Williamson) was good, but it speaks to JoJo’s integrity,” Studer said of Howie, who guided the Trojans to the Northwest Athletic Conference’s North Region title before accepting the head coaching position at Central Arizona College. “The guys who were with us all fall expected to play, and JoJo didn’t want to take the opportunity away from guys who needed to get seen to have a chance at playing four-year college baseball. He was open and honest with Noah about that, saying he was welcome to come train with us and work on his game, and that’s what Noah decided to do.”
Williamson doubled in his only at bat with the Trojans. He is currently playing for the Yakima Valley Pippins of the collegiate wood bat West Coast League, with whom he’s batting .280 in 24 games and leading the league in both home runs (six) and RBI (26).
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