Loraine Named Second Team All-Region by ABCA

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College's Zach Loraine has been named to the 2013 American Baseball Coaches Association All-Southeast Region team. Loraine was a second-team selection as a relief pitcher.

Loraine, a junior, is a right-handed pitcher who serves as the Cobras' closer and designated hitter. As of Thursday, Loraine has a .331 average with three home runs, three triples, 15 doubles, 37 RBIs, 48 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. On the mound he has a 5-2 record with a 2.40 ERA and 15 saves. He's struck out 65 batters over 60 innings. His 15 saves are tied for best in Division II.

In the NCAA Southeast regional tournament Loraine was lights out, tossing a total of 5 1-3 innings of shutout baseball.  He allowed three hits and struck out nine. Loraine earned the win against USC Aiken and a save against Mount Olive College. On offense he hit .421 with four RBIs, five runs and a stolen base.

In addition to the ABCA selection, Loraine has collected several awards. He was named first team all-region by Daktronics and a second team all-region selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was also the NCBWA Southeast region pitcher of the week and Conference Carolinas pitcher of the week.

Loraine is originally from Lake St. Louis, Mo., and is a physical education and sport studies major with a concentration in exercise science at Coker. He is the son of Lance and Eva Loraine.

The Coker baseball team (38-14) defeated Georgia College to win the NCAA Southeast regional tournament. The Cobras earned their first-ever birth into the NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals. They take on the University of Tampa in their first game at 1 p.m. Sunday in Cary, N.C.

The entire ABCA All-Southeast Region teams are as follows:

First team

First base: Chris Dula, Catawaba. Second base: Allen State, North Greenville. Third base: Jordan Edgerton, UNC Pembroke. Shortstop: Mike Mercurio, Mount Olive. Catcher: Geno Escalante, Mount Olive. Infielder: Cameron Scott, Columbus State. Outfielders: Zach Bricknell, Young Harris; Patrick Grady, Lander; Ryan Lewis, Columbus State; Keaton Hawks, Catawba. Designated hitter: Brandon Reitano, Mount Olive. Starting pitchers: Ethan Carter, UNC Pembroke; Nick Lomascolo, Catawba; Alex Regan, Mount Olive; Matt Dillon, Mount Olive. Relief pitcher: Taylor Grover, USC Aiken.

Pitcher of the year: Matt Dillon, Mount Olive

Position player of the year: Cameron Scott, Columbus State

Second team

First base: Ty Barkell, USC Aiken. Second base: Ryan Metzler, USC Aiken. Third base: Ryan Cranmer, Newberry. Shortstop: Daniel Bick, Georgia College. Catcher: Jeff May, Lander. Infielder: Drew Willingham, Erskine. Outfielders: J. D. Pullen, Columbus State; Adam Taylor, North Greenville; Jon Gray, Pfeiffer; Bryce Baur, USC Aiken. Designated hitter: Bill Gerstenslager, USC Aiken.

Starting pitchers: Derek Beasley, USC Aiken; Dale Innes, UNC Pembroke; Dylan Wolchik, Lander; Jonathon Rosenberger, Newberry. Relief pitcher: Zach Loraine, Coker.

For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations and marketing, at 843-383-8018 or cdougherty@coker.edu.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.