Mason Calloway, Newton’s star centerfielder, signed his national letter of intent to play baseball at Savannah State University on Monday morning.

“It was the best look for me. Georgia was also looking at me, but I mean it sounds good, Georgia over Savannah State, but Savannah State is gonna start me right away,” Calloway said. “I will have a better opportunity over there to play D-I comp. We actually get to the play them [UGA] my first year there. Them and Georgia Tech, which should be good. I like the coaches and get along with them. They interact well down there at SSU. I really like it.”

UGA, Kennesaw State, Georgia State and Alabama State were all in pursuit of Calloway’s services, but SSU won Calloway’s favor by giving him the ability to start immediately, granted he puts in the work.

“I know they got a steal,” Andre Byrd, Calloway’s coach at Newton, said. “I think he can contribute year one. He’ll be a good guy for them. Savannah State is Division-I ball, but they snuck one in when they got Mason Calloway.”

“They’re getting a scrappy guy. One that gets on base that pitchers have to worry about. Pitchers are gonna be looking over their shoulder a lot because he’s guaranteed to get second base,” Byrd said. “He’s very fundamental. He plays hard and he gives 150 percent so that’s the type of guy they’re getting. He’s a competitor. He’s a winner. He’s a proven winner here because we win a lot of ball games.”

Calloway hit .549, stole 55 bases, scored 29 runs and boasted a perfect fielding percentage in his junior season. The coaches at SSu want Calloway to play enter for them, but they need him to improve his strength first.

“My strength,” Calloway said when asked where his new coaches want to see him improve. “Everything else is good. All assets are good except my strength. I’m a little small and if I’m not gone grow I need to be strong.”

Calloway says he’s come a long way as a baseball player and Byrd says his maturity is the best part of his growth.

“I used to not know how to hit back when I was young,” Calloway said. “I came a long way. I never knew I was gone be here, but I kept working. I really found out I was good so I had to set all the other sports to the side and go after this one so that’s why I’m here now.”

“He gives 150 percent in anything whether it’s hitting, stealing bases, running or catching, he gives 150 percent. His hustle is his best attribute,” Byrd added.

Trainers helped Calloway with his hitting. That, God and a lot of travel ball are what helped make Calloway into the player he is today he says.

“We’re looking forward to a good season with him [Calloway] and Alex Johnson leading our charge, and it’s gone be a special year for Newton baseball,” Byrd said.

When asked how it feels to make his singing official, Calloway said. “It feels good because I lot of students walk around yelling your name and, ‘SSU commit!’ So it feels real good to get that monkey off my back, but now I gotta graduate. So I gotta stay in the books and strive harder.”

Mason Calloway, Newton’s star centerfielder, signed his national letter of intent to play baseball at Savannah State University on Monday morning.

“It was the best look for me. Georgia was also looking at me, but I mean it sounds good, Georgia over Savannah State, but Savannah State is gonna start me right away,” Calloway said. “I will have a better opportunity over there to play D-I comp. We actually get to the play them [UGA] my first year there. Them and Georgia Tech, which should be good. I like the coaches and get along with them. They interact well down there at SSU. I really like it.”

UGA, Kennesaw State, Georgia State and Alabama State were all in pursuit of Calloway’s services, but SSU won Calloway’s favor by giving him the ability to start immediately, granted he puts in the work.

"I know they got a steal,” Andre Byrd, Calloway’s head coach at Newton, said. “I think he can contribute year one. He’ll be a good guy for them. Savannah State is Division-I ball, but they snuck one in when they got Mason Calloway.”

“They’re getting a scrappy guy. One that gets on base that pitchers have to worry about. Pitchers are gonna be looking over their shoulder a lot because he’s guaranteed to get second base,” Byrd said. “He’s very fundamental. He plays hard and he gives 150 percent so that’s the type of guy they’re getting. He’s a competitor. He’s a winner. He’s a proven winner here because we win a lot of ball games.”

Calloway hit .549, stole 55 bases, scored 29 runs and boasted a perfect fielding percentage in his junior season. The coaches at SSu want Calloway to play enter for them, but they need him to improve his strength first. 

“My strength,” Calloway said when asked where his new coaches want to see him improve. “Everything else is good. All assets are good except my strength. I’m a little small and if I’m not gone grow I need to be strong.” 

Calloway says himself he’s come a long way as a baseball player and Byrd says his maturity is the best part of his growth.

“I used to not know how to hit back when I was young,” Calloway said. “I came a long way. I never knew I was gone be here, but I kept working. I really found out I was good so I had to set all the other sports to the side and go after this one so that’s why I’m here now.”

“He gives 150 percent in anything whether it’s hitting, stealing bases, running or catching, he gives 150 percent. His hustle is his best attribute,” Byrd added.  

Trainers helped Calloway with his hitting. That, God and a lot of travel ball are what helped make Calloway into the player he is today he says.

“We’re looking forward to a good season with him [Calloway] and Alex Johnson leading our charge, and it’s gone be a special year for Newton baseball,” Byrd said.

When asked how it feels to make his singing official, Calloway said. “It feels good because I lot of students walk around yelling your name and, ‘SSU commit!’ So it feels real good to get that monkey off my back, but now I gotta graduate. So I gotta stay in the books and strive harder.”