Former Hartselle Tigers pitcher and infielder Christian Edwards, now with Jacksonville State (JSU), was selected as a 2018 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.

Edwards proved valuable coming out of the bullpen, particularly in late-inning work. In 19 appearances, Edwards earned a 1.91 ERA in 33 innings, which was the best on the team. He posted a 3-1 record, 55 strikeouts and three saves. Edwards held opponents to a measly .104 batting average, allowed only 11 hits and seven earned runs.

“It feels pretty good to win the award since it’s a national award through all Division I teams,” Edwards said. Edwards came off surgery two weeks into the season and struggled at first, but he got better as he healed and the season went on, he said.

Edwards struck out nine batters in 4.2 innings in JSU’s Ohio Valley Conference tournament game against Eastern Kentucky. Even though JSU lost, Edwards dominated, striking out the side in the sixth inning and allowing no hits, walks or runs in the fifth through seventh innings.

Edwards’ teammates, infielders Isaac Alexander and Cole Frederick, were also selected as Freshman All-Americans. JSU was one of only seven teams in NCAA Division I baseball to have three or more honorees, joining LSU, Auburn, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Miami and FIU.

“We’ll be a lot better as we get older,” Edwards said. “We’re a young team. We have a lot of good freshman pitchers, and Alexander and Frederick will only get better.”

Edwards said he is working toward starting next season. “Coach asked me what I wanted to do, and I told him I wanted to start,” Edwards said. “We’ll be working on that before next season.”