Baseball Travels to Wofford for SoCon Series
4/28/2011 10:10:00 PM | Baseball
Games 43-45
College of Charleston (27-15, 11-7 SoCon)
at Wofford (19-22, 6-12 SoCon)
Friday, April 29 • 7:00 p.m.
LHP #31 Josh Renfro (6-2, 3.48 ERA) vs. LHP #15 Cash Collins (7-1, 2.67 ERA)
Saturday, April 30 • 3:00 p.m.
RHP #23 David Peterson (4-4, 5.05 ERA) vs. RHP #16 Brandon Yarusi (0-3, 4.32 ERA)
Sunday, May 1 • 1:00 p.m.
RHP #20 Christian Powell (5-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. RHP #36 Tom Dolinak (3-4, 4.82 ERA)
RADIO: SportsRadio 1450-AM - Jeff McCarragher (play-by-play)
BATTING PRACTICE
• The Cougars' 8-0 start this season equaled the mark set in 2002 for the best start to a season in program history.
• Charleston has won at least 30 games in nine straight seasons and at least 35 games in seven straight.
ROAD TO 100
With the Cougars' 10-5 win over The Citadel Sunday afternoon, head coach Monte Lee picked up his 100th career win at the helm of the CofC program. Lee recorded his 100th victory in 152 games, the fastest in CofC baseball program history. It took Ralph Ciabattari 216 games to record his 100th win as Cougars skipper, while current Auburn head coach John Pawlowski needed 185 contest to notch win #100 for the College of Charleston.
LAST WEEK (3-0 vs. Furman)
Redshirt-freshman RF Daniel Aldrich knocked a two-out, two-run double to right field capping a five-run ninth inning as the College of Charleston rallied for a 13-12 victory over visiting Furman University Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point.
Redshirt-junior 3B Matt Leeds had a pair of home runs and six RBIs on the afternoon as the College of Charleston swept visiting Furman University by scores of 10-6 and 9-6 Saturday afternoon at Patriots Point. In game two, a four-run seventh inning evaporated a 6-5 deficit as the Cougars roared back for a 9-6 win. Senior RHP Casey Lucchese earned the win in relief for Charleston improving to 2-0 on the season, while Leeds knocked a pair of home runs in the win, giving him 14 on the season.
ALL-TIME VS. WOFFORD
In the College of Charleston's modern baseball era since 1991, the Cougars lead the all-time series 30-8 over Wofford. Last season in Charleston, CofC swept the Terriers by scores of 82, 17-6, and 3-0. The last time the two teams faced off in Spartanburg was 2009, with Charleston sweeping the series by scores of 18-2, 24-7, and 5-0. Charleston is currently on a 12-game winning streak against Wofford, dating back to May 23, 2007, a 19-6 loss to the Terriers in the Southern Conference tournament.
PRITCHER NAMED NSCA ALL-AMERICAN
Senior C Robert Pritcher was recently recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year. Pritcher was among 247 collegiate and high school athletes from 96 schools across all divisions to receive the award, which recognizes the student-athletes' dedication to strength training and conditioning. Pritcher had a 34-inch vertical jump, a four second pro-agility run, a 350-pound bench press and 500-pound squat.
“Pritch demonstrates all the qualities you look for in an athlete, from his outstanding work ethic, to his desire to get better in every training session,” CofC Assistant Director of Sports Performance Matt Powell said. “He has been a positive influence, on not only his team, but the entire athletic department, because of his leadership skills and his infectious personality.”
ALDRICH GARNERS SOCON PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Redshirt-freshman LF Daniel Aldrich has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week for his performance with the Cougars for all games from April 4-10. Aldrich batted .500 with a 1.050 slugging percentage for the Cougars last week while collecting at least two hits in all four games. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C. native drove in 11 runs while six of his 10 hits went for extra bases, including a pair of home runs over the weekend at The Citadel. In both of CofC's wins last week, a 6-5 triumph at UNC Wilmington and a 10-5 defeat of The Citadel, Aldrich drove in four runs.
FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME
After fouling a ball off his leg his leg in the April 1 win over Western Carolina, redshirt-junior Matt Leeds missed the April 2 matchup against the Catamounts, ending a streak of 89 straight starts for the 2010 Southern Conference Player of the Year. Leeds played and started all 63 games last season and was in the starting lineup for all 26 games leading up to April 2.
LEEDS NAMED SOCON PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY
Redshirt-junior Matt Leeds, the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year, was honored by the league today as he received February Athlete of the Month honors. Leeds batted .417 with a pair of home runs and 16 RBIs as the nationally-ranked Cougars started the season with a perfect 7-0 record in February. A preseason All-SoCon First Team honoree, Leeds led Charleston to an 11-6, seasonopening win against Kentucky with six RBIs, including a three-run home run in the third inning. He followed that performance with four more runs driven in during a win over Miami (Ohio) the following afternoon. Leeds recorded a hit in all but one contest while reaching base at a .568 clip and slugging .708.
LEEDS SELECTED AS A DAVE HART SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Matt Leeds has been selected by the Southern Conference as a Dave Hart Scholarship winner. The postgraduate-studies award is chosen by a five-person committee based on accomplishments in academics, athletics and community service.
MESA HONORED WITH ExCEL AWARD BY COLLEGE
Senior 2B Jesse Mesa has been chosen as ExCEL Student-Athlete of the Year by the College of Charleston. The Excellence in Collegiate Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Awards program honors faculty, staff, students, community groups and/or individuals for promoting excellence and diversity at the College of Charleston. This award recognizes the accomplishments of a senior male or female in any sport whose academic and athletic achievements have left a lasting impact on their team. In addition to demonstrating athletic ability, this person has proven to be a respected leader on and off the field of play.
RAKAR NAMED 2011 SOCON PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Senior Cole Rakar has been selected as the 2011 Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year as chosen by the league's baseball coaches. Rakar headlines a conference-high six Cougars chosen to the Preseason All-Conference teams. As a junior, Rakar led the Southern Conference in runs (76), hits (102) and doubles (26) while finishing in the top 20 nationally in each category. His .378 batting average was third-highest in the league. The center fielder had a team-high 31 multi-hit games, including six three-hit and six four-hit efforts. He ended the season on a nine-game hitting streak and was honored in 2010 as a first team All-SoCon selection, as well as earning NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional All-Tournament Team honors.
SIX COUGARS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAMS
Joining senior Cole Rakar on the first team are senior Casey Lucchese and redshirt-juniors Rob Kral, Jose Rodriguez and Matt Leeds. Junior David Peterson was named to the second team.
COUGARS TABBED AS SOCON PRESEASON POLL FAVORITES
The College of Charleston was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference baseball championship in 2011 as selected by the league's coaches and media. The Cougars received all 10 possible first-place votes and 100 points in the coaches' balloting, as coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams. CofC also grabbed 19 of 22 first-place votes and 239 points in the media poll. The Maroon and Gold return six of eight starters in the field, as well as a pair of weekend starting pitchers from the 2010 team that was 44-19 overall and finished second in the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional.
LEEDS EARNS COLLEGIATE BASEBALL PRESEASON HONOR
Redshirt-junior Matt Leeds was selected to the Louisville Slugger 2011 Pre-Season All-American team, it was announced today by Collegiate Baseball. Leeds was named to the third team. The 2010 ABCA All-American led the Cougars in slugging percentage (.690), RBI (88) and was fifth in batting average (.326) and third in hits (79). His 21 home runs led the team and the Southern Conference and put him 35th in the country, while his 88 RBI ranked him first in the league and second nationally.
