Published: June 07, 2008 03:55 pm            

Mitchell to pass on Navarro, drafted by Chicago Cubs

ALTO — A 96-mph fastball is hard to ignore.

Football might have to take a back seat for a while.

While the Alto Yellowjackets have won two state grid titles, the big news now is baseball.

Alto’s starting quarterback in football, Tarlandus Mitchell, is also a standout baseball player.

Mitchell was drafted in the 22nd round (the 671st player) by the Chicago Cubs in the recent amateur baseball draft.

Mitchell, a 5-8, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, impressed scouts with his 96-mph heater from the mound.

“I am tickled to death for him,” said veteran Alto baseball coach John Paul Dixon. Dixon said he thinks Mitchell will sign with the Cubs and forego his pending football scholarship at Navarro College.

Mitchell was playing in a select baseball league tournament in Monroe, La. and could not be reached for comment.

This year, Mitchell led Alto to the quarterfinals in baseball with a perfect 8-0 record. He had 115 strikeouts in 42 innings posting a 1.35 earned run average. Mitchell pitched a no-hitter in the playoffs as Alto finished the year with a 21-5 record.

Dixon, the Alto head baseball coach for the last 19 years, said Mitchell was the first Yellowjacket to be drafted in baseball.

“We knew he was doing well and the scouts were interested. We thought if he got drafted, it would be by the Astros. He went to a try out camp for them and threw 96 mph,” Dixon said. “We did not realize he was throwing that hard.”

Dixon added, “They’re interested in him as a pitcher. But he’s a good hitter and he has good speed. He could turn out to be an outfielder or something. They have people who are experts and they will determine all that.”

        

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