Monday, May 16, 2011

MACON, Ga. - In nine days, the Atlantic Sun will conduct its Baseball Championship from Ken Dugan Field on the campus of Lipscomb University. Today we take a look at the four schools to have already clinched berths to the event.

STETSON HATTERS
Seed Scenarios: Clinched No. 1 Seed and Regular-Season Title
Record/A-Sun Record: 39-13 (22-5, Atlantic Sun)
Boyd's World RPI/Warren Nolan RPI: 21/19
Remaining A-Sun Schedule: Home vs Belmont (Thursday, 6:30 pm; Friday, 6:30 pm; Saturday, 1:00pm)

Season in Review: Stetson returned to the top of the A-Sun standings for the first time since 2007 by claiming series victories in each of their first nine conference series. The Hatters opened the season by sweeping Georgia at home and have continued to dominate inside the friendly confines of Melching Field, posting a 26-6 mark at home. Offensively, catcher Nick Rickles leads the team in average, home runs and RBI, but its the pitching staff that deserves much acclaim. Led by Kurt Schluter's 1.40 ERA, the staff ERA of 3.51 currently ranks as the Hatters' second-lowest in 25 years. The Hatters have earned national recognition, ranking in national polls since the middle of March.

JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS
Seed Scenarios: No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4
Record/A-Sun Record: 32-18 (18-9, Atlantic Sun)
Boyd's World RPI/Warren Nolan RPI: 53/46
Remaining A-Sun Schedule: Road at Kennesaw State (Thursday, 6:00 pm; Friday, 6:00 pm; Saturday, 1:00pm)

Season in Review: The Dolphins, runners-up a season ago at the A-Sun Championship, have positioned themselves to post its highest regular-season finish since claiming the regular-season crown in 2006. Their talented pair of Wisconsin-bred sophomores, Adam Brett Walker and Dan Gulbransen, have consistently paced the offense. Walker ranks in the top two in the A-Sun in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs, hits and total bases. The potent Dolphin offense ranks fourth in the nation in hits with 573 and fifth in the nation in runs scored, having already tallied 402.

KENNESAW STATE OWLS
Seed Scenarios: No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 or No. 6
Record/A-Sun Record: 30-21 (16-10, Atlantic Sun)
Boyd's World RPI/Warren Nolan RPI: 97/83
Remaining A-Sun Schedule: Home vs Jacksonville (Thursday, 6:00 pm; Friday, 6:00 pm; Saturday, 1:00pm)

Season in Review: The Owls carry a rich baseball tradition that features NAIA and Division II National Championships and recent first-round draft picks in Chad Jenkins and Kyle Heckathorn. They added to it this year by qualifying for the A-Sun Championship for the first time in program history. All-American catcher Ronnie Freeman opened the season by hitting in 13 straight games extending his hit streak from the end of 2010 to 42 - setting a school record. He and Andy Chriscaden (14 home runs, conference-leading 70 RBI) have paced the offense. The Owls own a pair of marquee non-conference wins, defeating Georgia and Georgia Tech at home.

ETSU BUCCANEERS
Seed Scenarios: No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 or No. 6
Record/A-Sun Record: 34-17 (15-10, Atlantic Sun)
Boyd's World RPI/Warren Nolan RPI: 34/34
Remaining A-Sun Schedule: Road at Mercer (Thursday, 6:00 pm; Friday, 6:00 pm; Saturday, 1:00pm)

Season in Review: The Buccaneers opened the season 11-2 and have found themselves inside the RPI top 40 throughout the season. Reigning Player of the Year Paul Hoilman continued his assault on the A-Sun record book taking over the top spot in home runs, doubles and total bases. His 19 home runs lead the league and the Bucs' 81 long balls leads the nation. Bo Reeder has established himself as one of the nation's top two-way players in the country. Offensively, he leads the club in hits, runs and RBI. On the mound, his 16 saves puts him in a tie for the A-Sun single-season record and in a tie for the national lead.

Tomorrow we preview the teams currently on the right side of the championship bubble, Mercer and Belmont.