We start off our top relievers list with a Lumberjack from Louisiana Tech- senior Cade Hodges.

From Brookhaven, Mississippi, the 6-foot-1 righthander was excellent for Covington in 2021; overall, he went 2-1, 3.37 in 13 1/3 innings, with one save, a .220 batting average against, 1.128 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, and 12.9 K/9. Of pitchers on this list, he finished fifth in BB/9, and eighth in K/9.

Hodges spent two years at Pearl River Community College before transferring to La Tech. In 2019, he went 1-0, 6.00 in only six innings. In 2020, though, he went 4-0, 1.04 in 17 1/3 innings, while allowing only seven hits and two walks while striking out 24. He was named a JBB First Team All-American after the season.

Moving to La Tech in 2021, he went 0-0, 5.00, with 10 strikeouts in nine innings pitched. Watch for a breakout season this spring!