Coastal Carolina (44-12)

at THE BOJANGLES’ BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT

CHARLES WATSON STADIUm/VROOMAN FIELD

- Conway, S.C.

May 25-28

Tournament Rotation

Coastal - RHP Mike Valter (3-0, 2.30 ERA)

LHP Jake Hurry (10-2, 4.87 ERA)

RHP Ricky Shefka (10-2, 2.63 ERA)

LHP Andy DeLaGarza (5-3, 4.44 ERA)

National Rankings

Coastal - 21st (Baseball America), 23rd (NCBWA Poll)

24th (Collegiate Baseball), RV (Sports Weekly/ESPN)

The 21st-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (44-12) looks to win its fifth straight conference tournament title as it hosts the 2005 Bojangles’ Big South Baseball Tournament May 25-28 at Charles Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field. The Chanticleers, the top seed, begin the Big South Tournament Wednesday, May 25 against sixth-seed Radford University (14-38) at 11 a.m. This is the second straight year the Chants open with Radford in the BSC tournament. If Coastal wins the opener, it will face the loser of third-seed Birmingham-Southern and Liberty Thursday, May 26, at 3 p.m. If it loses, Coastal will face the loser of the second-seeded Winthrop-fifth-seeded VMI game at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Coastal is coming off winning 2-of-3 games against Winthrop and winning its ninth Big South regular season title in school history.

BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Coastal, winners of seven Big South Tournament titles, is 44-17 all-time in the tournament. Last season, Coastal won its fourth straight BSC affair, defeating Radford 8-2 in the first round behind a complete-game performance from Steven Carter. The Chants then defeated Winthrop 8-4 as Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) threw eight innings and struck out seven in the win. Coastal would then face Birmingham-Southern three striaght times. The Chants defeated the Panthers 5-3 in the winner’s bracket championship game. In that game, Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Coastal lost in the first championship game to BSC 9-2, but won the second championshp game 5-3 behind another outstanding performance from Carter, who went 8.2 innings and struck out seven. Carter was named the Most Valuable Player in the tournament for the second straight year, while Todd, Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), Chad Oxendine, Brett Grandstrand and Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) were named to the All-Tournament team. Against first-round opponent Radford, the Chants are 4-0, defeating the Highlanders 8-7 in 1999, 13-6 in 2001, 5-3 in 2002 and 8-2 in 2004.

GILMORE GETS CAREER WIN #600 AGAINST VMI: Coastal head coach Gary Gilmore earned his 600th career victory in a 4-3 win over VMI March 25. Gilmore won his 500th career game Feb. 21, 2003 against Delaware and had 350 wins in 10 years at Coastal. He has led his teams to 40 or more wins nine times and took USC Aiken to one College World Series and two NCAA Tournaments and Coastal to four NCAA appearances.

HEAD COACH GARY GILMORE: Coastal Carolina head coach Gary Gilmore (Coastal Carolina ’80) is in his 10th season as the mentor of the Chanticleers. He has a 371-219 record at Coastal and a career 624-321 record in 16 years at Coastal and USC Aiken. Coach Gilmore won his 500th career game Feb. 21, 2003, against Delaware and is 23rd in winning percentage among active coaches. Gilmore has guided the Chanticleers to four straight Big South Tournament titles and was named the Big South Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2002. He has guided Coastal to a Big South regular-season title in 2005. Overall, Gilmore has won 40 games or more in a season for the Chants six times.

RPI WATCH: The 14th RPI Index by Boyd’s World was released May 23, and the Chanticleers were ranked 15th. Coastal was 15th in Warren Nolan’s RPI index. The Big South was ranked 11th in the conference RPI by Boyd’s World.

COASTAL AMONG NATION’s BEST IN WINS: Coastal Carolina enters this weekend’s series with 42 wins, which is sixth in the country in total wins to this date. Here is a list of schools with the most wins heading into the weekend:

1. Florida State 47

Tulane 47

3. Nebraska 46

4. Louisiana-Lafayette 45

. Wichita State 45

6. COASTAL CAROLINA 44

College of Charleston 44

8. Texas 43

9. Creighton 42

10.Oregon State 41

CCU PROGRAM EARNS 1,000th WIN AGAINST UTPA: Coastal Carolina University program earned its 1,000th win in a 5-2 victory over Texas-Pan American April 2. CCU baseball started in 1974 and has had just four head coaches. John Vrooman coached for 13 years at Coastal and has a 325-246 record. He started the program and came back and coached from 1987-95. Larry Carr coached from 1978-84 and had a 265-86 record. Bobby Richardson was at Coastal for two seasons and had a 61-38 record. Coastal went to five NAIA College World Series and have gone to five NCAA Tournaments. Here is a list of milestone wins in the Coastal program.

1 Coastal Carolina 6, Maryland 4 (March 8, 1976)

250 Coastal Carolina 22, Westminster 3 (March 28, 1983)

500 Coastal Carolina 1, Augusta State 0 (April 28, 1990)

750 Coastal Carolina 4, Liberty 2 (March 27, 1999)

1,000 Coastal Carolina 5, Texas-Pan American 2 (April 2, 2005)

COSTANZO NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR DICK HOWSER TROPHY: Coastal Carolina University junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2005 Xanthus Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced May 20.

The Xanthus Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the Florida State University All-American shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.

The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2005 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 17, at 9:30 a.m.

CHANTS RANKED IN THREE POLLS THIS WEEK: After taking 2-of-3 games from Winthrop this past weekend, Coastal Carolina is ranked in three polls May 23. The Chants are 21st in the Baseball America poll, 23rd in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll and 24th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.

It is the second time in school history that the Chanticleers have been ranked in the Baseball America poll, having cracked the poll last week. It is the ninth time this season Coastal has been ranked in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. CCU has been ranked in the NCBWA poll for 13 straight weeks.

CCU EARNS REGULAR-SEASON TITLE: With its 6-2 win over Winthrop May 22, Coastal Carolina wrapped up its ninth Big South regular season championship in school history. Coastal went 21-3, the most Big South wins in school history. The Chants also won their third title under head coach Gary Gilmore and their first title since 2002. Coastal also won the Big South title that season.

DRIVE FOR FIVE: Coastal Carolina is looking to win its fifth straight Big South Tournament title this week. The Chants have the second best streak of tournament wins in the country, behind Oral Roberts’ seven straight titles.

HURRY, BINDA HAVE MOST WINS IN A COASTAL UNIFORM: Seniors Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) and Byron Binda (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) became the all-time winningest class in school history when Coastal beat Winthrop 7-6 May 21. Binda and Hurry have 174 wins, eclipsing last year’s senior class.

COSTANZO TIES SAVE RECORD: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) earned his 13th save in Coastal‘s 7-6 win over Winthrop May 21, tying him with Kit Kadlec for the single-season save record. Costanzo also is fourth all-time in the Coastal save mark with 14, one behind teammate Byron Binda.

LUCKY 13: A day after Costanzo earned his 13th save, his mashed his 13th home run in the 6-2 win over the Eagles. Costanzo now has 42 career home runs, second on Coastal’s all-time list.

COASTAL WINS ALL BIG SOUTH SERIES: For the first time since 1988, Coastal Carolina won every Big South series it played in. Coastal swept High Point, Birmingham-Southern, Liberty and UNC Asheville and took 2-of-3 from Radford, VMI and Winthrop. The 1988 squad went 15-0 in Big South play.

BALDRIDGE ENJOYS HOMECOMING: Freshman Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill), who grew up 15 minutes from the Winthrop campus, went 4-for-10 with a double, a home run and three RBI in the three-game series against the Eagles. It was his first career home run and he moved his RBI total for the year to 17.

CHANTS GET 40 WINS: With its 8-2 win over UNC Asheville May 13, Coastal Carolina earned its 40th win of the season. It is the fifth straight year the Chants have won 40 games and the ninth time in school history. The 2005 team is tied for third in all-time wins at Coastal with 44. The most wins a Chanticleer club has won was 46 in 1983 and 2003.

COASTAL TURNS 2: In the five games May 10-15, Coastal turned 13 double plays, including four each against Georgia Tech May 10 and UNC Asheville May 14. For the season, the Chants have turned 56 double plays, or one per game.

DELAGARZA NAMED BIG SOUTH CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Coastal Carolina University sophomore Andy DeLaGarza (Ossian, Ind./Norwell) has been named the New Balance Big South Co-Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced May 16. DeLaGarza shared the honor with Winthrop’s Mike Honce.

DeLaGarza went 2-0 last week with wins over fifth-ranked Georgia Tech and UNC Ashevile. Against the Yellow Jackets, the sophomore tossed 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs in the 7-6 win. After a four-run first, DeLaGarza settled down and scattered just three hits in his final 5.1 innings, while inducing four double plays. In his 5-3 win over UNC Asheville, DeLaGarza fanned seven batters, permitted just three hits in six-plus innings with four double plays. For the week, he pitched 12.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs and holding opponents to a .238 batting average while striking out 10 in doubling his season win total.

TODD NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT SECOND TEAM: Coastal Carolina University senior baseball player Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Second Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced recently.

Todd, a political science major with a 3.547 grade point average, has played in 55 of Coastal’s 56 games this season. He is second on the team with a .360 batting average and has 73 hits. Todd is second in the Big South with a .496 on-base percentage, trailing only teammate Mike Costanzo (.543). He had a streak of 49 straight games reaching base that lasted from May 29, 2004-May 7, 2005. Tood has nine doubles, three home runs and 42 runs batted in, as well as being hit by a pitch a conference-leading 17 times. The senior has 21 multi-hit games, including a streak of seven straight outings with two or more hits.

SHEFKA GOES THE DISTANCE AGAIN: For the second straight week, junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) pitched a complete game, this time in an 8-2 win over UNC Asheville May 13. The righthander gave up only two earned runs and struck out four in the win. Shefka also went nine innings in an 11-2 win over Charleston Southern May 6.

COASTAL TAKES CARE OF ACC OPPONENTS IN MIDWEEK GAMES: Coastal Carolina won back-to-back midweek games over fifth-ranked Georgia Tech and eighth-ranked North Carolina May 10-11. The win over the Yellow Jackets was the highest ranked team that the Chants have defeated in school history ... Coastal also has defeated an ACC opponent three times this season, the most since 1997 ... The Chants also have four wins over ranked opponents this season (Clemson, College of Charleston, Georgia Tech, North Carolina) ... The 14 runs the Chants scored against North Carolina were the most given up by the Tar Heels since Miami scored 18 runs April 16.

NO PLACE LIKE THE ROAD?: Coastal has gone 18-7 on the road this season, including sweeps against Big South foes Birmingham-Southern, High Point and UNC Asheville and the wins over the College of Charleston, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. As a team, Coastal is hitting. 305 on the road this season.

COSTANZO’S STREAK ENDS AT 20: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) had his 20-game hitting streak snapped May 14 against UNC Asheville. The streak was the longest in the Big South this season. During the streak, Costanzo had a .467 batting average as the Chants went 17-3.

RABER RAKES IN WIN OVER UNC: Sophomore Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) drove in five runs, three on a fifth-inning home run, in the 14-5 win over North Carolina May 11. On the season, Raber is hitting .266 with two home runs and 24 RBI.

VALTER HAS STELLAR PERFORMANCE AGAINST UNC: Junior Mike Valter (Bloomingdale, N.J./Briarcliffe C.C.) went 6.2 innings, his longest outing of the year, and gave up only one run and three hits while striking out five in a 14-5 win over North Carolina May 10. He improved his record to 3-0 on the year and lowered his ERA to 2.45, second-best on the team.

COSTANZO DOES IT ALL IN TECH WIN: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) hit a two-run opposite field home run to break a 4-4 tie and earned his 11th save by pitching 2.2 innings and striking out five in Coastal’s 7-6 win over Georgia Tech. Costanzo struck out Michael Fisher and Whit Robbins to end the game. The junior drove in four and was 2-of-3 at the plate.

TODD’s STREAK COMES TO A CLOSE: Senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) on-base streak ended at 49 games in the 4-3 win over Charleston Southern. Todd reached base, but it was on a fielder’s choice. This season, he has a .496 on-base percentage to go along with a .360 batting average. He did drive in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the win over the Buccaneers.

SHEFKA GOES THE DISTANCE IN FRIDAY’S WIN: Junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) pitched Coastal’s second nine-inning complete game of the season in an 11-2 win over Charleston Southern May 6. The junior struck out nine and gave up only five hits and two runs to improve his record to 9-2 on the year. Shefka was named the Big South Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.

COASTAL CELEBRATES SENIOR DAY WITH 4-3 WIN: Coastal recognized its five seniors May 8 against Charleston Southern. Seniors Mike Andreas (Hanover, Pa./Georgia Tech), Byron Binda (Stafford, Va./North Stafford), Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.), Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) and Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) were honored before the 4-3 win over the Buccaneers. Binda earned the win and Todd drove in the winning run.

COSTANZO SETS WALKS RECORD: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) leads the nation with 1.09 walks per game. He set Coastal’s single-season walks record with his 54th May 7 against Charleston Southern. He broke the mark set by Ryan McGraw in 2003. Coastal also leads the league with 318 free passes.

CHANTS PUT UP RUNS IN BUNCHES SATURDAY vs. CSU: The Chanticleers had its highest run and hit total in the 17-3 win over Charleston Southern May 7. Coastal had 19 hits on the day, led by sophomore Dom Duggan’s (Cranberry Twp., Pa./John Carroll) four hits.

HURRY KEEPS ELON AT BAY: Senior Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) struck out seven in eight innings in Coastal’s 9-6 win over Elon April 30. His record improved to 7-2 on the year and he had his second longest outing of the year. Hurry also moved to eighth in career victories at Coastal with 22.

BINDA SETS APPEARANCE RECORD: Senior Byron Binda (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) appeared in his 110th game in a 9-8 win over Liberty April 24, which set a new Coastal all-time appearances record by a pitcher. He broke Kit Kadlec’s (1997-2000) record of 109 games. Binda also is sixth on the Coastal list in strikeouts with 270. Binda has appeared in 115 games for Coastal.

COSTANZO NAMED TO WATCH LIST FOR THE GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD: Coastal Carolina University junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) is one of only 40 players across the nation to be put on the "Watch List" for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award. The five finalists for the award will be announced by USA Baseball in early June.

The Golden Spikes Award is considered "Amateur Baseball’s Most Prestigous Honor". This award has been given to players who exhibit exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship annually for the past 27 years. USA Baseball, in partnership with the Major League Baseball Players Association will reveal the overall winner in July.

DEJESUS DRIVING IN WINNERS: Junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) drove in the winning run in two of Coastal’s wins the week of April 18. DeJesus had a two-run single to break a 5-5 tie in the 9-5 win over 19th-ranked College of Charleston April 19 and had a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth as the Chants defeated Liberty 9-8.

COSTANZO NAMED TO MIDSEASON WATCH LIST FOR STOPPER OF THE YEAR: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) is one of 35 players to be selected to the midseason watch list for the inaugural National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, the organization announced today (April 20). The award will be given annually to the top relief pitcher in Division I.

Costanzo has given up only nine earned runs in 45.0 innings of work this season. He has a 6-1 record and leads the team with 13 saves in 32 appearances. Costanzo has a 1.77 earned run average and 63 strikeouts compared to just 21 walks. Opponents also are hitting only .197 against Costanzo. The junior only needs one more save to break Coastal’s all-time single-season saves mark.

COSTANZO EARNS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) was named the Pro-Line Cap National Player of the Week award for the period ending April 19, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced today (April 20). The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.

Costanzo went 9-for-14 (.643) with a triple, three home runs, seven runs batted in and seven walks as Coastal went 4-0 during the week. The Springfield, Pa., native had a .762 on-base percentage and reached base in 13-of-15 plate appearances against Birmingham-Southern. Costanzo had two home runs, including the game-winner in the eighth inning, in Coastal’s 6-5 win over BSC April 16. He had a 1.429 slugging percentage and scored seven runs in four games.

COSTANZO NAMED BIG SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) was named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Baseball Player of the Week, the conference office announced today (April 18). Costanzo helped the Chanticleers to a 4-0 record this past week, including a three-game sweep of Birmingham-Southern.

Costanzo went 9-of-14 at the plate (.643) with a triple, three home runs and seven runs-batted-in. He hit two home runs, including the game-winner in the eighth inning, as the Chanticleers defeated the Panthers 6-5 April 16. Costanzo also earned the save in the game, pitching two innings, giving up no hits and striking out one. Costanzo also hit a three-run home run April 15 as the Chants defeated BSC 9-1. In the three game series against the Panthers, the junior reached base in 13-of-15 plate appearances.

SALMON PROVIDES SPARK IN WIN OVER COFC: Junior Kevin Salmon (Brentwood, N.Y./Briarcliffe C.C.) pitched five innings against 19th-ranked College of Charleston, striking out three and giving up only one earned run against the Cougars. Salmon took a no-decision, but was able to get the game to the bullpen for the 9-5 win. On the year, Salmon has 19 strikeouts and a 6.32 ERA in 31.1 innings.

DUGGAN FINDING A HOME IN THE LINEUP: Sophomore Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./John Carroll) is hitting .357 with 12 doubles and 20 RBI since being installed into the number-two hole in the Coastal lineup April 1. The centerfielder leads the team with 16 doubles and has a .421 on-base percentage.

STREAK ENDS FOR COSTANZO: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) gave up his first earned run of the season in the 7-6 win over Radford April 10. The streak went 30.1 innings before Radford's David Landman doubled in Nate Toth with the game-tying run.

FOISY LOVES CAMELS PITCHING: Senior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.) drove in four runs and had a bases-clearing triple in Coastal’s 16-8 win over Campbell April 12. Foisy ends the two-game series against the Camels with four hits and seven RBI.

COSTANZO MAKES MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) was selected to the Baseball America Mid-Season All-America Second Team as a utility player, the magazine announced April 8. Costanzo is the only player from the Big South on the first or second team.

Costanzo also was selected as the best utility player in the Southeast this season by Southeastern Baseball.com.

BALDRIDGE THE HERO ON SUNDAY: Freshman Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) laced a double in the ninth inning to plate Kevin Entsminger and give Coastal a 7-6 win April 10. It was Coastal's fourth last at-bat victory of the season and was Baldridge's sixth RBI of the year.

SHEFKA NASTY AGAINST RADFORD: Junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) was unhittable in Coastal’s 13-4 win over Radford April 8. Shefka allowed only two baserunners in seven innings, with one of those reaching on an error. He struck out three and gave up only one hit while not allowing a walk.

DUGGAN GETS IT DONE IN THE CLUTCH: Sophomore Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./John Carroll) hit a three-run double April 2 to break a 2-2 tie and help Coastal to a 5-2 win over Texas-Pan American. In the series, Duggan was 5-for-10 with five RBI and a home run.

COASTAL HITS, BUT DOESN’T SCORE IN CLEMSON SERIES: Coastal Carolina hit .307 as a team in the two-game series with Clemson, but could only score six runs and managed only one extra-base hit as the Chants dropped a pair. In the 8-1 loss Wednesday, five players had multiple hits, but none of the five were next to each other in the batting order. The Chants also left 22 runners on base as Coastal lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

ENTSMINGER LIFTS COASTAL IN SERIES OPENER AGAINST VMI: Junior Kevin Entsminger (Canton, Mich./College of the Siskiyous) was the hitting hero in Coastal’s 4-3 win over VMI March 25. He lined a single to left field in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie. This season, Entsminger has a .314 batting average and 24 RBI.

SHEFKA NAMED BIG SOUTH PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Coastal Carolina University junior pitcher Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) has been named the New Balance Big South Baseball Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced today (March 21).

The righthander threw eight innings for the Chanticleers in their 1-0 victory over High Point March 19. Shefka struck out eight Panthers while not allowing a walk or run to improve his record to 3-0 on the year. He also allowed only two runners to third base in the shutout. Shefka outdueled Eammon Portice, last week’s Big South Pitcher of the Week.

BALDRIDGE STEPS UP IN HIGH POINT SERIES: Freshman Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) went 7-for-10 at the plate March 20-21 as Coastal completed a sweep of High Point in the Big South series opener. Baldridge went 3-for-4 with a run in the 12-3 victory and was 4-of-6 with three RBI in the 9-6 victory. On the year, Baldridge is hitting .359 with 17 RBI.

CHANTS HAVE GEORGE MASON’S NUMBER: Coastal Carolina defeated George Mason for the seventh and eighth straight times in a doubleheader sweep of the Patriots 6-0 and 9-4. George Mason had a seven-game winning streak heading into the doubleheader, but fell to 10-5 on the year with the two losses. Coastal also shut out the Patriots for the first time since Feb. 29, 2004 against South Carolina.

HURRY GOES THE DISTANCE: Senior Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) pitched a complete-game three-hitter in a 6-0 victory over George Mason March 15. The lefty struck out nine Patriots, three off a career high, and allowed only two runners past second base to move his record to 3-1 on the year.

MORGAN LOVED JAGUAR PITCHING: Sophomore Danny Morgan (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Academy) went 6-for-10 in the three-game series with South Alabama March 11-13. He had two doubles and four RBI. His three hits and three RBI were key in Coastal’s 5-4 win over the Jaguars March 13. In fact, Coastal hit .311 as a team against South Alabama, second highest in a weekend this season. They also had 11 hits in six innings of USA ace P.J. Walters.

VERRETT’S TURN TO BE THE HERO: Junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) hit a one-out double to the left center gap to give Coastal a 4-3 lead and capped off another come-from-behind win, this time over Western Carolina March 6. Verrett scored sophomore Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) to give Coastal its third come-from-behind win of the season.

VALTER SPELLS RELIEF AGAINST KENT STATE: Junior Mike Valter (Bloomingdale, N.J./Briarcliffe C.C.) pitched six innings of solid relief, earning the win in a 15-11 game over Kent State. Valter pitched six innings, striking out three and allowing only two hits.

COSTANZO EARNS BIG SOUTH CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) was selected as the Choice Hotels Big South Conference Baseball Co-Player of the Week for the week ending March 6. Costanzo shared the honor with Winthrop’s Heath Rollins.

In four games last week, Costanzo batted .385 with three doubles, one home run, five runs batted in and an .846 slugging percentage in helping the Chanticleers to a #23 ranking and a 3-1 record for the week. He hit a home run in a 4-2 loss to The Citadel, went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles in Coastal’s 15-11 win over Kent State. Costanzo hit safely in all four games and also earned his first save in the 4-3 victory over Western Carolina March 6.

COASTAL-KENT STATE A WILD AFFAIR: Coastal’s 15-11 win over Kent State featured the following: two lightning delays (one that lasted 2:27), one triple play (executed by Kent State in the eighth), an eight-run inning by Kent State (of which one run was earned), six hit batsmen, five passed balls, and 26 runs but only 18 hits. Coastal also led 15-3 going into the eighth, but Kent State brought up the tying run in that inning. Senior Byron Binda (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) struck out Gregg Hiller to end the KSU threat.

DOYLE’S 10th INNING HEROICS LIFTS COASTAL OVER JMU: Freshman Dock Doyle (Conway, S.C./Conway) hit a chopper to second base that led to an infield single in the 10th, giving the Chants a 5-4 win over James Madison March 4. Sophomore Adam Vrable (Bay City, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) reached on an error to start the inning and moved to third on a single from junior Kevin Entsminger (Canton, Mich./College of the Siskiyous), setting up Doyle’s heroics.

MARRIE THROWS NO-NO IN THE RAIN: Sophomore Kevin Marrie (Clarksville, Md./River Hill) threw five innings of no-hit baseball in Coastal’s 14-0 win over Rider Feb. 27. Marrie struck out seven Broncs in throwing the first no-hitter of head coach Gary Gilmore’s tenure at Coastal.

SHEFKA EXCELS ON THE MOUND: Junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) had a great first two games in a Coastal uniform. The righthander threw seven innings, striking out five and allowing only five hits in the 13-2 win over West Virginia Feb. 20. He then struck out six and allowing no walks or runs in six innings in a 14-0 win over Rider. On the season, Shefka has a 2.63 ERA, 70 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 102.2 innings. The Coastal pitching staff also has shined, sporting a 3.79 earned run average thru 56 games.

WHAT A GAME: Coastal’s 3-2 win over Clemson Feb. 19 in the Baseball at the Beach Tournament was a game for the ages. Clemson scored two runs in the first inning off of starter Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman), but that would be the last runs the Tigers would score in the tournament. Hurry battled out of a bases loaded jam in the third by getting Adrian Casanova to fly to center field to end the inning. Coastal scored a single run in the fifth on an RBI single from sophomore Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./John Carroll). The score would stay 2-1 until the eighth. Senior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.) opened the inning with a double and moved to third on a groundout from classmate Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.). Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) then got just enough on the ball in his groundout to third to score Foisy. In the bottom of the ninth, junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Derek Martin (Barnwell, S.C./Barnwell). Junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) then hit a soft liner to third, but it was misplayed by Herman Demmink, putting runners on first and second with one out. That set up the heroics of junior DJ Burns (Gilbert, Ariz./Chandler Gilbert J.C.), who singled to right to score the game winning run.

WHAT A CROWD: A crowd of 3,565 watched the Coastal-Clemson game. The Chants other two games had great crowds as well, as the East Carolina game drew 1,502 and the West Virginia game had 1,280 fans.

DEJESUS SHINES IN WVU GAME: Junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) was mired in a 1-for-11 slump, but busted out of that in Coastal’s 13-2 win over West Virginia Feb. 20. DeJesus went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in against the Mountaineers. His double in the first got the Chants on the board and his two-run single in the third started the four-run inning for CCU.

PITCHING SOLID IN BASEBALL AT THE BEACH: The Coastal Carolina pitching staff had a great weekend at the Baseball at the Beach Tournament Feb. 18-20. The staff had a 3.00 earned run average with 17 strikeouts and only 11 walks on 27 innings. The starting rotation of sophomore Andy DeLaGarza (Ossian, Ind./Norwell), senior Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) and junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) had a 1.86 ERA with nine strikeouts.

OPENER NOT KIND TO COASTAL: For the first time since the 1998 season, Coastal fell in its opener 8-4 to Campbell Feb. 15. Coastal lost to North Carolina 21-8 in the opener of the 1998 season. The Chants six straight openers, including a 6-3 win over Delaware State in the 2004 lidlifter.

COASTAL RANKED IN PRESEASON POLLS: Coastal Carolina was ranked 34th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s Fabulous 40 preseason poll. The Chants face five teams that were ranked in that poll, including Clemson and East Carolina, which they face this weekend at the Baseball at the Beach. Coastal also received votes in the NCBWA Coaches Poll and the Sports Weekly/ESPN Top 25 preseason polls.

COSTANZO EARNS PRESEASON HONORS: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) earned preseason all-America honors by both the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America. The CBN had him as a third team infielder, while BA listed him as a third team utility player. Costanzo was the fifth player in Coastal history to earn the Big South Most Valuable Player honor in 2004 after hitting .359 with 21 doubles, 21 home runs and 74 runs-batted-in. Costanzo led the team in all four categories while leading the Big South in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (.740). He also was a First Team All-Big South performer and a second team all-Atlantic Region selection. Costanzo holds the Coastal single-season record for runs-batted-in, breaking Frank Talotta’s record of 68 set in 1983.

Costanzo also was one of 42 pitchers named to the Roger Clemens Award Watch List. He had a 7-4 record with one save in 66.2 innings of work in 2004. He earned the win in Coastal’s 5-3 victory over BIrmingham-Southern in the winner’s bracket championship final, going five innings of relief and allowing only one run. Costanzo struck out 52 batters, while walking only 27 in 19 appearances. Over the summer, Costanzo was the closer with the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod League. He did not allow an earned run until the postseason and had four saves in 13 appearances.

In addidtion, the junior was named to the preseason All-America team at first base by The Hardball Times.

BINDA LIKES THE LETTER K: Junior Byron Binda (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) is first on Coastal’s career strikeouts per nine innings mark. He has 10.14 strikeouts per nine innings, ahead of Ron Deubel’s 9.71. He struck out six batters in two innings against Liberty April 23 and is 14th in the nation with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 2005.

2004 CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED: Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) were named co-captains of the 2005 Coastal Carolina baseball team.

COASTAL PICKED SECOND IN BSC COACHES POLL: The Coastal Carolina University baseball team was picked to finish second in the 2005 Big South Preseason poll, as voted by the League’s Head Baseball Coaches and Sports Information Directors and annouced today (Jan. 27) by the Conference office.

Winthrop was picked as the preseason favorite, receiving 16 first-place votes and 159 out of a possible 162 points, ending Coastal’s five-year reign as the preseason favorite. Coastal had two first-place votes and 16 second-place tallies for 146 points. Birmingham-Southern placed third with 115 points, and was followed by Radford (86 points) and Charleston Southern (77) in the poll. Liberty (67), VMI (57), UNC Asheville (56) and High Point (46) round out the voting.

NEWCOMERS DOT COASTAL ROSTER: Coastal has 18 newcomers on the 2005 roster, and three players (DJ Burns, Dom Duggan and Aaron Verrett) saw action against Campbell Feb. 15. The Chants had 19 newcomers last season as they won a fourth straight Big South Tournament title. Coastal only has seven players who have been with the program more than two years.

CHANTS IN THE PROS: With opening day taking place in the major and minor leagues, three former Chanticleers have landed on minor league rosters. Justin Sturge is with the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Adam Keim was recently promoted to the Wichita Wranglers, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Brandon Powell is with the High Desert Mavericks of the California Leage, the High-A afilliate of the Kansas City Royals.