|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
August 26, 2004 For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114 / Kimberly Stark (901) 333-4023 SALUQIS BASEBALL TEAM OPENS FALL SEASON The Southwest baseball team, coming off the most successful season in the program’s 32-year history, will open the 2004 Fall Schedule with an intersquad game at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 30 at Tony Gagliano Memorial Field. On September 17-19, the Saluqis will host the Southwest Fall Showcase at Gagliano and Sowell Fields. A total of 15 schools will participate in the Showcase, with the Saluqis scheduled to play Bevill State-Sumiton (AL), Bevill State-Fayette (AL), Lincoln Trail (IL), Northeast Mississippi, and Coahoma (MS). The Saluqis will play a total of approximately 20 games this fall, including showcases at Middle Tennessee State University, Delta State University, and the University of North Alabama, and games against Rhodes College and Christian Brothers University at AutoZone Park. Johnny Ray, entering his second year as head coach, guided the Saluqis to a 40-22 record in the spring of 2004, setting the school record for most wins in a season. After finishing fourth in the TJCCAA regular season, Southwest captured the TJCCAA/Region VII Tournament Championship at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, defeating fifth-ranked Walters State in the final game. The Saluqis return seven players who started at least 28 games last season. Four infielders are back, including second baseman Ryan Orr, who set the school record for highest fielding average and was nominated for the TJCCAA/Region VII Defensive Player of the Year. Shortstop Wes Melton was one of the Saluqis' top hitters last season, batting .346 with 22 runs batted in, while third baseman Brad Tillman batted .260 as a freshman with 17 RBI. Also back is Preston Burleson, who started 28 games last season and is capable of playing second base, third base, or shortstop. Southwest returns two starting outfielders - centerfielder Chris Rogers, who was named first team All-TJCCAA and was one of the team’s top hitters with a .354 batting average, 25 doubles and 46 runs batted in, and leftfielder Brit Vincent, who was second on the team in hitting with a .394 average, three home runs and 22 RBI. Collins Coltharp, who started 35 games as a freshman splitting time between catcher and outfield, batted .228 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in. Only one pitcher is returning who logged more than 10 innings last season - southpaw Elliot Meng, who went 2-1 as a freshman in 15 appearances and struck out 26 batters in 27-2/3 innings of work.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
