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May 30, 2003
Atlanta Regional Capsules
1. Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets
Atlanta, Ga.
Automatic bid - won ACC Tournament
2003 record - 17-7, 44-16 (second)
Coach: Danny Hall (Miami (Ohio), 1977)
Record at school: 440-188, 11 years
Overall record: 648-305, 17 years
Assistant coaches: Bobby Moranda, Scott Stricklin, Jon Palmieri
Team offense: .299 BA, 459 R, 71 HR, .471 SLG%, .390 OB%, 106-133 SB
Team pitching: 3.97 ERA, 535.2 IP, 516 H, 188 BB, 411 K
Top hitters: Steven Blackwood (.352/5/38), Mike Nickeas (.336/7/44),
Tyler Greene (.321/8/43/19 SB), Clifton Remole (.321/8/43), Matt Murton
(.307/13/55/19 SB), Jake Hall (.303/0/12), Micah Owings (.302/14/41), Jeremy
Slayden (.297/8/40), Eric Patterson (.280/2/35/35 SB), Brandon Boggs
(.249/9/38/11 SB).
Top pitchers: Chris Goodman (9-3, 3.84, 86.2, 85 H, 20 BB, 55 K), Micah
Owings (9-2, 3.86, 81.2 IP, 75 H, 18 BB, 55 K), Kyle Bakker (8-2, 4.05, 86.2 IP,
90 H, 32 BB, 76 K), Brian Burks (5-1, 8 saves, 3.36, 56.1 IP, 46 H, 12 BB, 50
K), Jason Neighborgall (3-0, 3.70, 41.1 IP, 30 H, 36 BB, 32 K), Aaron Walker
(3-2, 4.06, 44.1 IP, 50 H, 16 BB, 34 K), Andrew Kown (3-2, 4.71, 49.2 IP, 54 H,
13 BB, 38), Jeff Watchko (3-3, 5 saves, 4.89, 46 IP, 49 H, 19 BB, 38 K).
Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (3-0 at Atlanta Regional, 2-0 at Atlanta Super
Regional, 1-2 at College World Series)
Notes: One year after reaching the College World Series, the Yellow
Jackets put together a magical run in the ACC tourney, winning three games on
the final day to win the title. Tech beat UNC, FSU and N.C. State on the final
day of the rain-plagued tourney. Brian Burks was named the tourney’s most
valuable player. Eric Patterson, who had the game-winning hit in extra innings
to give Tech the crown, stole 35 bases and drove in 35 runs for the Jackets.
Steven Blackwood emerged as the starting center fielder in the middle of the
season. Chris Goodman, Micah Owings and Kyle Bakker give the Yellow Jackets
three solid starters, and they have a solid bullpen that can chew up innings.
Tech was the preseason No. 1 team according to Baseball America.
2. South Carolina Gamecocks
Columbia, South Carolina
At-large bid from Southeastern Conference
2003 Record – 19-11, 39-20 (first in SEC East)
Coach - Ray Tanner (North Carolina State, 1980)
Record at school – 313-139, seven years
Overall record – 708-306-3, 16 years
Assistant coaches - Jim Toman, Jerry Meyers, Monte
Lee
Team offense - .301 BA, 381 R, 55 HR, .452 SLG%,
.376 OB%, 57/78 SB
Team pitching - 3.38 ERA, 516 IP, 490 H, 170 BB, 428
SO
Top hitters – Brian Buscher (.384/12/57), Justin
Harris (.344/3/31), Jon Coutlangus (.342/3/21/14 SB), Kevin Melillo
(.318/10/38), Landon Powell (.318/6/49), Bryan Triplett (.302/6/42), Steven
Tolleson (.281/1/12), Michael Campbell (.267/5/27)
Top pitchers – David Marchbanks (13-2, 2.38, 117 IP,
123 H, 19 BB, 88 K), Aaron Rawl (6-3, 6 saves, 2.96, 51.2 IP, 39 H, 19 BB, 50
K), Conor Lalor (5-0, 2.97, 39.1 IP, 40 H, 8 BB, 31 K), Chris Hernandez (4-4, 1
save, 3.07, 67.1 IP, 57 H, 21 BB, 40 K), Matt Campbell (5-4, 2 saves, 3.74, 74.2
IP, 64 H, 45 BB, 76 K), Steven Bondurant (5-3, 3.90, 94.2 IP, 95 H, 27 BB, 81 K)
Last NCAA appearance - 2002 (won Columbia Regional,
won Columbia Super Regional, runner-up at College World Series)
Notes – Aftern losing several key performers from
last year’s College World Series team, Ray Tanner’s group rose to the top of the
SEC East again. Brian Buscher and Kevin Melillo supply the power. David
Marchbanks is 13-2 in 16 starts with two complete games.
3. East Carolina
Pirates
Greenville, N.C.
At-large bid from Conference USA
2003 Record: 17-13, 33-25-1 (fifth in Conference USA)
Coach: Randy Mazey (Clemson, 1988)
Record at school: 33-25-1, one year
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Tommy Eason, Matt Osborne, James Molinari
Team offense: .271 BA, 330 R, 60 HR, .415 SLG%, .345 OBA%, 40/70 SB
Team pitching: 4.10 ERA, 540.1 IP, 556 H, 189 BB, 460 K
Top hitters: Darryl Lawhorn (.336/13/43), Jamie Paige (.306/3/33), Jake
Smith (.301/19/26), Ryan Norwood (.300/13/43), Kevin O’Sullivan (.282/0/7), Adam
Witter (.275/4/17), Mark Minicozzi (.265/7/33), Ryan Jones (.255/4/29), Luke
Cherry (.245/1/18).
Top pitchers: Davey Penny (4-3, 2.82, 60.2 IP, 54 H, 18 BB, 59 K), Glenn
Tucker (4-4, 3.11, 81 IP, 81 H, 15 BB, 80 K), Greg Bunn (4-5, 9 saves, 3.25,
44.1 IP, 38 H, 22 BB, 65 K), Will Brinson (3-3, 4.48, 90.1 IP, 101 H, 24 BB, 71
K), Neal Sears (6-5, 5.03, 77 IP, 92 H, 24 BB, 67 K).
Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (2-2 at Clemson Regional)
Notes: ECU is returning to the postseason for the fifth straight year and
19th overall. The Pirates are a three seed after having been a one or a two the
previous four years. They likely were one of the last teams to make the field,
possibly edging out conference foe TCU. ECU bats only .271, one of the lowest
averages in the field. Four batters are over .300, led by Darryl Lawhorn, who
hit .413 a year ago. Ryan Norwood is the other bat to fear. Opponents hit
only.230 off starter Davey Penny and only .235 off closer Greg Bunn. Jason
Tourangeau threw a one-hitter against Houston in the C-USA tourney after having
thrown only 14 innings all year. Pirates pitchers set a school record with 460
strikeouts.
4. Stetson Hatters
DeLand, Fla.
At-large bid from Atlantic Sun Conference
2003 Record: 21-12, 39-22 (second in A-Sun)
Coach: Pete Dunn (Stetson, 1972)
Record at school: 849-508-3, 23 years
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Terry Rooney, Mitch Markham, Frank Martello
Team offense: .305 BA, 398 R, 50 HR, .440 SLG%, .386 OBA%, 28/45 SB
Team pitching: 4.39 ERA, 504.1 IP, 571 H, 180 BB, 372 K
Top hitters: Brian Snyder (.398/10/51/12 SB), Ian Church (.352/8/34), Ben
Hall (.337/1/13), Mike D’Aoust (.330/2/19), Bryan Zenchyk (.322/8/53), John
Destefano (.320/2/24), Pete Rasmusen (.285/4/38), Andy Wilson (.276/7/42), Rusty
Beale (.263/0/17), Chris Cole (.292/3/29), Chris Westervelt (.234/4/25).
Top pitchers: Adam Blair (2-2, 3.67, 61.1 IP, 62 H, 26 BB, 37 K), Cy
McCuen (9-4, 3.73, 91.2 IP, 103 H, 20 BB, 62 K), Mike Wiley (5-2, 3.98, 61 IP,
71 H, 27 BB, 46 K), John Destefano (5-2, 4.00, 63 IP, 77 H, 14 BB, 29 K), Roger
Lincoln (5-8, 8 saves, 4.85, 72.1 IP, 84 H, 15 BB, 72 K), Cameron Abel (3-0,
4.28, 48.1 IP, 43 H, 23 BB, 38 K), Adam Townsend (3-3, 5.15, 57.2 IP, 68 H, 27
BB, 58 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (0-2 at Tallahassee Regional)
Notes: The Hatters made the field for the fourth straight year and the
13th time in school history. Stetson was a fence team that got in after a strong
second half of the season. The Hatters helped their cause by beating Florida
Atlantic to reach the A-Sun Tournament final, which they lost to Jacksonville.
Senior lefty Roger Lincoln won 12 games a year ago but was roughed up in starts
against Oklahoma State and Rice early in the season. He was moved to the pen,
where he appeared in 35 of the Hatters’ 51 games. Still one of the team’s best
pitchers, he’s turned out to be solid as a closer. Brian Snyder belted 23
doubles to go with three triples and 10 homers for a .671 slugging percentage.
The Hatters don’t run much, stealing only 28 bases compared to 92 allowed.
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