[조지아컬리지주립대]May 2018: Pitcher aims for a career in baseball player operations(Georgia College & State University)

Record-setting Georgia College Baseball pitcher Charlie Hecht aspires to work in player operations of a major baseball league one day. 

The marketing major has already accomplished some big goals. With a ball speed of nearly 88 mph, he is a two-time Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Scholar-Athlete. Hecht also was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and PBC Pitcher of the Week March 2017.

“The NCBWA award was from one of my best-pitched games,” he said. “So, receiving it was really cool.” 

His 20-career wins put him four points shy of being in Georgia College’s top 10. His 256 career strikeouts rank fourth in the history of Georgia College, third in the NCAA-era. Although Hecht exceeded in pitcher standings, he came away with so much more.

“I think sports taught me discipline,” Hecht said. “It’s important to have someone hold you accountable, and that includes coaches and teammates.”

He also has learned things don’t always happen as planned.

“Sports also taught me how to work through adversity,” Hecht said. “Sometimes nothing goes your way. I’ve learned to handle that better and adjust to what I can control.”

He got to experience sports from a different perspective—as a student intern in Athletics where he was responsible for a portion of social media, advertising the games, sales during games, some halftime events and more.

“I have been around sports a long time so I have seen a lot of marketing going on around me in the sports world,” he said. “But that was the first time I was behind the scenes of the marketing handling sales for Make-A-Wish and advertising the games. That was kind of interesting because it put me on the other side of the marketing experience.”

“Charlie did a great job assisting with marketing plans in the fall,” said Al Weston, assistant athletic director. “His strong work ethic as a student-athlete showed through in his work for my office as well. He was a key piece in promoting the games to the campus ahead of time and assisting with in-game promotional efforts as well.”

In the classroom, Hecht learned how to think effectively.

"I like how we went back and forth on discussions," he said. "I learned how to think outside the box. Instead of accepting an answer, I learned how to think deeper."

Upon graduation, Hecht plans to become a grad assistant in athletics while he pursues his master's degree in business administration, and he has several people to thank along the way including Steve Barsby, Jimmy Wilson, Wendell Staton, the athletic trainers and his professors.

"I spent a lot of time with them and other students every day," Hecht said. "These people have made a big impact on me and helped shape me into the person I’ve become today."