Newton Citizen

TAMPA -- Tyler Austin's baseball life is about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Austin will begin his first spring training as a professional when the New York Yankees began full camp Feb. 17.

The 21-year old, who was a 13th-round selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of Heritage, was invited to participate with the major league team after a stand out 2012 season.

Austin was predominantly an outfielder a year ago as he moved up three levels within the Yankees' minor league organization. And after hitting .322 in 110 games, the 6-2, 200-pound Conyers native was granted an invitation to the Yankees' camp in Tampa, Fla.

New York begins its exhibition schedule Feb. 23 against the Atlanta Braves.

Sunderhaus back in lineup

Seattle, WA -- Though an ankle injury forced him to miss his first game of the season, Deshaun Sunderhaus wasn't out for long. The former Rockdale stand out and redshirt freshman for Seattle University returned to the lineup recently.

Sunderhaus, who went out with the injury early in a loss to San Jose State, Jan. 31 and missed the following game against Utah State, returned Feb. 7 against Denver and played just two minutes. That wasn't a sign of things to come as Sunderhaus started and played 28 minutes, registering 14 points (on 6-of-11 shooting from the field) and five rebounds in Seattle's 60-57 loss.

Sunderhaus has started 21 of the Redhawks' 23 games and is leading the Western Athletic Conference school in rebounding (6.5 per game) while scoring the second-most points (averaging 9.8). Seattle, which has struggled to a 7-16 overall and 2-11 mark in WAC play, will try to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts Louisiana Tech on Thursday at 10 p.m.

RYBA gets going

The spring season is under way at the Rockdale Youth Baseball Association. Practices for the two-month season began Monday as the teams get ready for Opening Day on March 16. The games conclude May 16.