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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
The Elizabethton Cyclones came up just short of their goal of returning for a third straight state championship run after losing to Sullivan South but for two Cyclone seniors, their careers will be extended thanks to Milligan University head baseball coach Skyler Barnett coming through with a couple of scholarship offers to continue their playing career.

First baseman Noah Rosato, who had transferred to the Cyclone program to play only one year from Avery County, and Ashton Wilson, a four-year player for Cyclone head coach Ryan Presnell, signed their National Letter of Intent to play collegiately for Barnett at Milligan University.

Joining the players were family, friends, Cyclone teammates, and former coaches.

Presnell broke down what Milligan was getting in each player beginning with Rosato.

“I think they are getting a really good deal,” Presnell said of Rosato. “They are getting a player that has got the possibility to impact the program from day one.

“With his power and ability to hit the other way, the ability to hit off-speed, he’s definitely a guy I know Milligan is excited to get. We were really happy to watch him progress because he made a lot of progress in just one year and that speaks to his coachability and his upbringing.”

Wilson who has been through the thick and thin of the Cyclones runs at the state level even as a freshman, is a gamer who Presnell believes will be a valuable part of the Milligan team.

“Milligan is getting a guy that gets people out,” said Presnell of Wilson. “Honestly in 2021 when everyone wants to talk about velocity and spin rates, some guys just get people out and that’s Ashton.

“His freshman year at the state tournament, he is warming up to go in to get the last out that was made. That’s the confidence that we have had in him to throw strikes and throw three strikes from day one. We are excited to see what he does over there.”