January 26, 2017

Harrigan's Cobras Picked Tenth in SAC Preseason Poll

The Coker baseball team was picked tenth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, released by the league today.

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker baseball was picked 10th in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, released by the league today.

Catawba took the top spot in the poll with eight first place votes. The full South Atlantic Conference release can be found here.

Coach Harrigan enters his first season at the helm of the Navy and Gold, replacing legendary head coach Dave Schmotzer, who had been with the program since its inception.

Harrigan spoke about the position battles that went on over the course of the fall season, some being more pivotal than others for the upcoming season. "We did a lot of competing in the fall, and some guys won certain spots so we're ready to get going", said Harrigan.

Junior shortstop Bryson Conner was selected to the preseason All-Conference Second Team, after a stellar sophomore campaign. Conner played in 44 games for the navy and gold. He hit .321, notching 51 hits including 12 doubles and 21 RBIs. He also stole 10 bases and scored 38 runs.

Harrigan also touched on the group of newcomers that he has welcomed to Hartsville and how that group has come along.

"That's the advantage of being a spring sport, fall is used to mix young guys, transfer guys and returners. Fall is used to get the best mix of guys for us to get out and compete," said Harrigan.

Harrigan's club is faced with a tough schedule, with three potential nationally-ranked opponents on the schedule. The Cobras open the 2017 campaign with 11 non-conference games, including a three-game series at home with the University of Indianapolis (Feb. 10-12). The following weekend (Feb. 17-18), the Cobras play host to Erskine out of Conference Carolinas. The month of February concludes with the opening series of South Atlantic Conference play at Tusculum, as well as another non-conference contest with the Barton Bulldogs on the road.

March begins with road SAC series' at Lincoln Memorial (Mar. 3-4) and Catawba (Mar. 10-11) before the Cobras return home to face Barton again on March 14. That weekend, the Navy and Gold play host to Lenoir-Rhyne (Mar. 17-18). March wraps up with Wingate coming to Hartsville for a three-game set (Mar. 24-25) and April begins with another home series against Anderson (Mar. 31-Apr. 1). The Cobras are away from the friendly confines of Tom J. New Field for the next week, traveling to North Greenville (Apr. 4) and Newberry for three that weekend (Apr. 7-8). North Greenville journeys to Hartsville on April 11 before Coker hosts Brevard for a weekend series (Apr. 14-15). The regular season finishes with an unbalanced home-and-home three-game set with UNC Pembroke, with two games at UNCP (Apr. 22) and the third in Hartsville (Apr. 23).

"Being on the road for a month is obviously difficult, but every weekend series in the SAC will be a grind," said Harrigan.

Coach Harrigan's full video interview can be found here.

The Cobras open the 2017 slate when they host the Knights of St. Andrews on Wednesday, February 1 for a 2:00 first pitch.