FARMVILLE, Va. -- Last season Aaron Myers was a valuable member of the Longwood bullpen, as he made 18 of his 23 appearances in a relief role, tying a school record with 10 saves.

As a freshman he led the team with 22 outings, all out of the bullpen, and posted an ERA of 3.38.

But prior to this season Myers sat down for a conversation with head coach Brian McCullough, who wanted to move the right-hander into the starting rotation for the 2014 campaign.

"He was definitely on board with it from the get go," McCullough said. "We just wanted him on the mound more. On Friday nights, he sets the tone for the whole weekend. He is a big kid and he is strong. He is just built for a starter, more so than a closer."

The move has gone well for junior Myers, who is 7-4 with an ERA of 1.70 and four complete games in his first 15 appearances (13 starts) this season for the Lancers. He has allowed just 75 hits in 100.1 innings with 81 strikeouts and 24 walks.

"The challenge of closing is you always have to be prepared," he said. "You can't expect to take a game off. I wouldn't say starting is easier, but settled is the right word. I have a specific day when I know I am going to be pitching."

Myers had another impressive outing at home May 9 against High Point in a Big South Conference game. He pitched a complete game and allowed just six hits and three runs (two earned) with three walks and two strikeouts, but came away empty as the Lancers lost 3-0.

In a 2-1 win over Duke of the ACC on May 4 in Durham, Myers went six innings and allowed just six hits and one run to record the decision over the Blue Devils.

Myers throws a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, change and curve. "One of the biggest differences from the past to this year is I am able to throw all of my pitches, and throw my off-speed pitches for strikes," he said. Myers estimates that he has thrown about 60 percent fastball this year, while that number was higher last season as a sophomore.

McCullough said Myers has developed his two-seam fastball as the season progressed. "It has some good movement. He gets a lot of swings and misses; it is better than his four-seamer," added the first-year head coach.

Myers, from Denbigh High, said he has filled out forms for scouts with the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and at least one other Major League organization in advance of the amateur free agent draft that begins June 5.

"I do believe there is a chance" to be drafted, he said.

If he is not drafted and signed, Myers plans to play in the Northwoods League, a summer circuit for top college players that uses wooden bats. He plans to play in Iowa for the Waterloo Bucks in a league that is based in Minnesota.

Waterloo, which begins the season May 27, was 51-19 last summer and won the North Division title in the Northwoods League. Myers posted an ERA of 0.81 in 2012 in the Coastal Plain League, and he also played there last summer.

Myers was a two-time All-District player and three-time team MVP at Denbigh, where he was 5-4 with an ERA of 1.98 as a senior. He also played third base in high school, and took part in basketball, football and volleyball, as well.

In hoops he played against future Division I standouts, but he knew for many years that baseball would be his future sport. Longwood was the first Division I school to show interest in Myers, who committed to the Lancers soon after the initial contact.

"I didn't want to be too far from home," he said. "I wanted a small campus. Longwood was just the perfect fit."

And being a starter this season has also been a perfect fit for the 6-foot-3 Newport News product.

"What has impressed me the most about Aaron is his ability to go out there, take the ball every single start and be as consistent as he can," said Matt Rein, an assistant coach for the Lancers. "That is a hard thing to do as a pitcher. He has just been able to time in and time out give us a quality outing and give us a chance to win."

---

Editor's Note: Special consultant David Driver is a Virginia native and has covered college sports in the state for more than 20 years. He has been a staff writer for newspapers in Arlington, Springfield and Harrisonburg and has contributed to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Washington Post, Stafford County Sun and The Potomac News in Woodbridge. He was also the first sports editor for the daily Baltimore Examiner. He will continue contributing special feature content to longwoodlancers.com throughout the upcoming 2013-14 academic year as well.  A former Division III baseball player at Eastern Mennonite University, David can be reached at www.davidsdriver.com.

Previous 2013-14 Special Features
From South Africa to Longwood
Longwood Head Coach Jayson Gee Introduces PACE
Soccer is a family affair for Kelsey Pardue
Milestone win gives young team confidence
Sophomore guards have a comfort level
Atkinson has men's soccer on the rise
Work ethic pays off for Jeylani Dublin, Lancers
Montgomery makes his pitch for call up In 2014
Morris makes her pitch for another strong season
A long journey to Longwood
Longwood standout honed her swing in sunny California