Athletics

Let the games begin: GCAC Tournament begins with BC vs SHC

May 02, 2006

   Shreveport, LA---The No. 1 seeded Belhaven College Blazers will look to defend their regular season championship crown against the No. 6 seed Spring Hill College Badgers Wednesday afternoon at Pilot Field in the 2006 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament opening game.

The Blazers enter the contest with a 39-16 overall record, but were 3-3 in the regular season series against the 16-30 Badgers. The potent Blazers lineup includes the GCAC player of the Year in Thomas Royals, and Pitcher of the Year Brad Fultz. BC also had third baseman Ricky Owens, designated hitter Buddy Wyrick, and relief pitcher Larkin Braxton named to the 2006 GCAC All-Conference squad.

The Badgers are led by senior pitcher Josh Coleman and GCAC All-Conference catcher Jeremy Koen. The two teams will square off in the opening game of the GCAC Tournament at 12:00pm at Pilots Field.

Game two of the tournament features the No. 3 seeded University of Mobile Rams against the No. 4 seed, William Carey College Crusaders, and is scheduled for a 3:30pm start.

The Crusaders enter the tournament with a 30-21 overall record, but have been the hottest team in the GCAC, winning 12 of their last 3 contests.

The Rams, who finished in a tie for second place with the LSUS Pilots at 17-13 in the GCAC are coming off a two games to one series victory over the No. 2 seeded Pilots. The Rams starting rotation which includes GCAC All-Conference Pitcher Keegan Laycock, and 2nd-Team All-Conference pitcher Jason Ragan make the Rams a top contender for the GCAC Tournament title.

The night cap will feature the home team, LSUS Pilots, taking on the Loyola University Wolfpack at 7:30pm. The Pilots are led by All-Conference selections Dusty Maddox, Dustin Bissonnette, and Kevin Jewell, and need to combine solid pitching with a highly talented offensive attack to knock off the Wolfpack.

LU took two of three games from the Pilots on their home turf two three weeks ago to split the season series at three games a piece. The Wolfpack are led by All-Conference selection David Lauricella and Bryan McCaulley.

2005-06 Baseball Standings