Closer look at the baseball teams in Southeast Regional at Columbus State
Columbus State Cougars
Seed: 1
Record: 42-12
Head coach: Greg Appleton (695-372 in 19 seasons at CSU)
How they got here: Won Peach Belt Conference tournament
Leading hitters: Ryan Ihle (.416, 19 2B, 5 HR, 49 RBI); Mike McClellan (.415, 12 2B, 18 HR, 70 RBI); Blake Edwards (.391, 21 2B, 8 HR, 51 RBI); Jackson Oliver (.370, 20 2B, 8 HR, 59 RBI).
Leading pitchers: Brandon Koehler (10-1, 5.69); Albert Harless (7-2, 4.97); Luke Porter (6-0, 4.89).
You need to know: This is CSU’s 25th trip to the NCAA tournament. It has advanced to the Division II World Series seven times, winning the national title in 2002.
LANDER BEARCATS
Seed: 2
Record: 38-14
Head coach: Kermit Smith (238-132 in seven seasons at Lander)
How they got here: At-large bid
Leading hitters: Colby Lusigman (.402, 18 2B, 12 HR, 60 RBI); Taylor Kellner (.355, 9 2B, 7 HR, 48 RBI); Thomas Berry (.333, 12 2B, 13 HR, 56 RBI); Zach Daly (.303, 7 2B, 21 HR, 71 RBI).
Leading pitchers: Will Jones (8-2, 3.51); JD Waite (4-2, 4.55); Colton Rogers (7-2, 5.12).
You need to know: Lander advanced to the Division II World Series for the first time in 2014. … Smith was the head coach at Belmont Abbey before leaving for Lander.
BELMONT ABBEY CRUSADERS
Seed: 3
Record: 38-14-1
Head coach: Chris Anderson
How they got here: At-large bid
Leading hitters: Colin Rosenbaum (.400, 22 2B, 3 HR, 43 RBI); Weston Clarke (.383, 21 2B, 6 HR, 36 RBI); Nick Beinlich (.340, 13 2B, 12 HR, 43 RBI); Nick Nunziato (.272, 10 2B, 18 HR, 56 RBI).
Leading pitchers: Tyler Byrnes (7-3, 3.62); Blake Waldren (6-3, 2.97); Matt Davenport (5-3, 4.75).
You need to know: Anderson spent the past four seasons on Kermit Smith’s coaching staff at Lander. He was also on Smith’s coaching staff at Belmont Abbey when the Crusaders made their only Division II World Series appearance in 2009.
USC AIKEN PACERS
Seed: 4
Record: 37-16
Head coach:
How they got here: At-large bid
Leading hitters:
Leading pitchers:
You need to know:
TUSCULUM PIONEERS
Seed: 5
Record: 36-16
Head coach: Doug Jones (648-363-1 in 19 seasons at Tusculum)
How they got here: At-large bid
Leading hitters: Nick Lacina (.380, 16 2B, 2 HR, 29 RBI); Creighton Wilke (.354, 11 2B, 8 HR, 43 RBI); Kevin Victoriano (.316, 14 2B, 17 HR, 41 RBI); Zack Fichum (.345, 10 2B, 1 HR, 27 RBI).
Leading pitchers: Placido Torres (10-0, 0.67); Zach Slagle (7-1, 3.02); Christian Raasch (7-4, 3.79).
You need to know: This is Tusculum’s seventh trip to the NCAA tournament, but the first since 2012.
CATAWBA INDIANS
Seed: 6
Record: 34-19
Head coach: Jim Gantt (717-365 in 20 seasons at Catawba)
How they got here: South Atlantic tournament champion
Leading hitters: Will Albertson (.416, 16 2B, 15 HR, 59 RBI); Dylan Richardson (.321, 16 2B, 11 HR, 53 RBI); Malachi Hanes (.301, 11 2B, 13 HR, 50 RBI); Zach Almond (.272, 8 2B, 13 HR, 39 RBI).
Leading pitchers: Russ Weiker (8-2, 4.09); Shaefer Shepard (5-5, 6.52); Sean Grant (3-1, 4.91).
You need to know: This is Catawba’s seventh trip to the NCAA tournament. The Indians has advanced to the Division II world series twice, including last season.
MOUNT OLIVE TROJANS
Seed: 7
Record: 31-19
Head coach: Carl Lancaster (1,049-459-1 in 30 seasons at Mount Olive)
How they got here: Conference of the Carolinas tournament champion
Leading hitters: Zak Orrison (.392, 14 2B, 7 HR, 46 RBI); Brett Lang (.357, 14 2B, 4 HR, 39 RBI); Stephen Wallace (.314, 11 2B, 12 HR, 35 RBI); Joe Koehler (.263, 4 2B, 10 HR, 37 RBI).
Leading pitchers: Bruce Zimmerman (9-2, 3.23); Brighton Hudson (7-3, 3.18); Austin Huthcinson (6-3, 3.18)
You need to know: Mount Olive has made 13 trips to the NCAA tournament. It has made the Division II world series twice, winning a national championship in 2008. … Lancaster is one of five active Division II coaches with 1,000 wins.
This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 7:29 PM with the headline "Closer look at the baseball teams in Southeast Regional at Columbus State."