This past fall, head football coach Gene Chizik struck gold with a junior college athlete from Georgia in Cam Newton. So far this spring, it appears head baseball coach John Pawlowski might have found similar success from the junior college ranks in Derek Varnadore from Chattahoochee Valley Community College.
After losing Cole Nelson and Grant Dayton from last year's rotation and facing the NCAA's new standards on bat specifications, pitching was a main focus for the Tigers in 2011.
To try to fill the void in the starting rotation, Pawlowski recruited Varnadore.
Varnadore posted a 7-0 record and 3.64 ERA while at CVCC, earning Second Team All-ACCC honors and First Team All-Southern Division honors.
Varnadore has maintained his undefeated streak with a 2-0 mark and 0.00 ERA so far for the Tigers.
In two outtings this year, Varnadore allowed just five hits and struck out 17 without allowing a run.
After his first start versus the UAB Blazers last Sunday, Varnadore said it was "like a dream come true."
"My step-dad went to the University of Georgia, so I did grow up a Georgia fan, but I've always wanted to play in the SEC," Varnadore said. "My goal when I went to Chattahoochee Valley was to play in the SEC, so to get that start on Sunday was awesome."
The opening weekend was up and down for the Tigers. In the first game Friday, the Tigers defeated Arkansas State 12-5, but fell in the second game, losing 13-2 to Virginia.
Winning Sunday was paramount as the Tigers tried to build momentum for the rest of the season, and Varnadore delivered with seven strong innings, scattering three hits and striking out four to lead the Tigers to a 6-0 shutout of UAB.
"I think it was huge to come out of the opening weekend winning two out of three," Varnadore said. "Virginia was a really good team, but I think we all got to the field last Sunday wanting to redeem ourselves."
In Sunday's 2-0 win over Radford, Varnadore's 13 strikeouts were the most in a game by an Auburn pitcher since Christ Bootcheck's 15 against West Virginia in 1999, a performance that earned Varnadore SEC Pitcher of the Week honors.
Varnadore grew up a few miles south of Athens, Ga., in Bishop. He attended Georgia football and baseball games and also worked at the UGA golf course.
But Varnadore enjoys having a school to call his own in Auburn.
"To be here in Auburn and to be able to have my own school to be proud of, I don't think I could want to be anywhere else. I love it here," Varnadore said.
Many athletes who have made the jump from junior college basketball or football to the SEC say the speed of the game is the biggest difference.
In baseball, Varnadore says the biggest difference is the hitter's ability to make pitchers pay for mistake pitches.
"One of the biggest differences between JUCO and D-1 is the discipline and experience that the hitters have," Varnadore said. "It's a learning experience for me because in JUCO, I could get away with a lot more mistake pitches, but I got here this fall and learned pretty quickly that guys like K.P. (Kevin Patterson) and Tony (Caldwell) take advantage of every mistake you give them."
Baseball players are notorious for different quirks and unwritten rules, but Varnadore doesn't follow the trend that some pitchers have set.
"I don't like to be that guy alone on the end of the bench that doesn't want anyone talking to him while he's pitching," Varnadore said. "With a defense like we've got, I like to be right there with everybody because I know when I'm on the mound, they're right there with me."
The Auburn family is the best part of Auburn to Varnadore.
"The best thing is how the people here love this place," Varnadore said. "It's cool how true the whole Auburn family is, and the traditions we have here are awesome.
"I'm just grateful and happy to be here and be able to be a part of it."
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