NATCHEZ — Former Adams County Christian School standout Ryan Goddard knew pitching in college would be tough.

“There’s definitely a lot better competition,” Goddard said. “In high school there were players you knew would be easy outs, but in college it’s the best players on every team in every at-bat.”

But the freshman pitcher for Copiah-Lincoln Community College is still having the same success in college that he saw in high school.

Goddard is currently 3-0 on the season and has pitched both as a starter and relief pitcher, he said.

“I’ve done a lot better than I expected to do,” Goddard said. “I didn’t think I’d be undefeated this far. I am happy with my performances so far.”

Goddard said he is especially pleased, because he struggled with the transition from high school to college at first.

“We have to manage classwork and have practice every day and weights every day, we have curfews nights before games and we are missing a lot of school, because we have a lot of away games,” Goddard said. “It’s hard to keep up.”

Goddard was primarily a starter for the Rebels, but he said he has adjusted to coming out of the bullpen when needed.

Goddard got the start Wednesday night against Hinds Community College and had his best performance of the year, he said.

“I took a no hitter into the fifth inning,” Goddard said. “I threw really good.”

Goddard was pulled in the fifth inning and Co-Lin ended up losing the contest.

Goddard said the Wolves have struggled some this season. They are currently 18-16-1 on the season, but he hopes the team will pick it up down the stretch.

“We got (a few) games left against some pretty good teams, but hopefully we will get a few wins in there,” he said.

Goddard knows that next year will be important as he looks to continue his baseball career.

“Next year there will be scouts at games watching me as a sophomore,” he said. “Any offer a school gives me at the next level, no matter what or who, I think I’ll take that.”

If the offer does not come, Goddard has other dreams in mind, he said.

“I’m hoping to become a baseball coach,” he said.

Goddard has been keeping up with the ACCS baseball team this season and has been to a couple of games, he said.

“I just miss everybody that was there,” he said. “I miss all the teammates last year. We only had two seniors, and everybody else was a junior or lower, and I miss playing with those guys.”