35. COASTAL CAROLINA

2008 RECORD. Overall: 50-14 (Advanced to NCAA super regional). Conference: 17-3 / 1^st in Big South.

Coach: Gary Gilmore (507-277, 14^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Southern Illinois .

 

OVERVIEW: With three 50-win seasons in the past four years, Coastal Carolina looks to the inevitable next step in the program’s evolution—a trip to the College World Series. The Chanticleers fell one step short in 2008, losing to North Carolina in a super-regional. With Dock C Doyle (.370-16-72) and OF David Sappelt (.349-18-70) lost to the draft from last year’s squad, Coastal will look to sophomore 3B Scott Woodward and senior 1B David Anderson to set the tone offensively. In all, six regulars return. Most of the pitching staff also is intact, but junior RHP Nick McCully, a swingman in 2008, moves into the closer role to fill the one obvious void.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Jose Iglesias, Jr. (.263-2-16) / Evan Noell, So. (.235-0-3).

1B: David Anderson (3), Sr. (.333-*20-59).

2B: Tyler Bortnick, Sr. (.345-6-40).

3B: Scott Woodward (1), So. (.364-7-45, 42 SB).

SS: Taylor Motter, Fr. (HS--Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).

LF: Chance Gilmore, Jr. (.214-5-26).

CF: Rico Noel, So. (.240-2-26, 16 SB).

RF: Daniel Bowman (4), Fr. (Rangers/48^th round).

DH: Adam Rice, Jr. (.344-8-45).

1/Starter: Bobby Gagg, Sr. (6-3, 3.28, 85 IP/54 SO).

2/Starter: Austin Fleet, Sr. (5-3, 4.43, 61 IP/29 SO).

3/Starter: Cody Wheeler, So. (6-0, 5.62, 66 IP/65 SO).

Closer: Nick McCully, Jr. (*10-3, 3.63, 3 SV, *89 IP/*72 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Rico Noel/Scott Woodward.

Best Overall Hitter: Scott Woodward.

Best Power Hitter: David Anderson.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Scott Woodward.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Rico Noel/Chance Gilmore (6.4 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Scott Woodward.

Best Defender: Taylor Motter.

Best Infield Arm: Taylor Motter.

Best Outfield Arm: Rico Noel.

Best Fastball (velocity): Nick McCully (95 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Austin Fleet/Cody Wheeler.

Best Changeup: Bobby Gagg.

Best Command: Bobby Gagg.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Anthony Meo, rhp. SS Taylor Motter, a top defender, and power-hitting OF Daniel Bowman may play more prominent roles than Meo for the Chanticleers as freshmen, but the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Meo, a Rhode Island product drafted in the 43^rd round last June by the Washington Nationals, is the team’s best long-term bet. He has an electric arm with a fastball that sits in the 88-93 mph range and a nasty slider. He just needs to become more consistent to earn meaningful assignments.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Scott Woodward, 3b. Woodward earned Freshman All-America honors in 2008, primarily for his skills as a leadoff hitter. Not only did he walk 58 times on his way to assembling a .540 on-base percentage, but he’s equally adept from the left side in spraying the ball to all fields or driving it to the gaps. His speed and ability to use it, and versatility in the field, are obvious assets, as well.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Nick McCully, rhp. McCully didn’t have a defined role a year ago despite racking up the most innings, wins and strikeouts on the Coastal staff. It’s unlikely he’ll lead in any of those categories this spring as he’s been installed as the Chaticleers closer, succeeding Pete Andrelczyk (8-1, 3.74, 9 SV), who blossomed in the role and became a fifth-round pick of the Florida Marlins in last year’s draft. With a fastball customarily in the 91-94 mph range to go with his bulldog-approach, McCully could repeat the same scenario.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: David Anderson, 1b. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Anderson has split his time between the plate and the mound in his career at Coastal, combining a 6-2, 4.47 record with his 20 homers in 2008. But he’ll concentrate more on swinging the bat this year, which could lead to his being drafted for the first time. Few players at the college level can match his raw power.

--JEFF SIMPSON