NORTH GEORGIA SID NAMED

DAHLONEGA, Ga. -- North Georgia College & State University announced that Travis Jarome has been selected as the Sports Information Director for the upcoming athletic season.

Jarome comes to North Georgia College and State University from LAMP High School in Montgomery, AL where he served as head girl's soccer coach.

Prior to his stint at LAMP, Jarome served as Sports Information Director at Auburn University Montgomery for two years.

During his time at AUM, he promoted Wimbledon doubles champion Wesley Moodie, former NBA player Etdrick Bohannon, and former professional baseball players Aron Andrews and Brett Holmes.

Jarome was responsible for seven intercollegiate sports at AUM, including the national championship tennis programs and perennial national power men's soccer team. He also assisted in AUM beginning a weekly television show that aired highlights of the athletic events, and for getting basketball and baseball games broadcast on the internet.

During his time at AUM, Jarome won numerous NAIA-SIDA awards for his work on media guides.
"I am honored to have been chosen," Jarome said. "North Georgia is a great place to work, and the staff is excellent. I cannot wait to begin work with the athletic department and assist them in their transition to NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Athletic Conference."

He served as media administrator for the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championships and the NAIA National Tennis Championships in 2005. Jarome also covered the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships for The Championship Daily in 2005 and 2006.

Jarome also wrote for The Montgomery Advertiser covering various high school and collegiate events, and for The Montgomery Independent covering junior high and high school events.

Before his stint as the director at AUM, Jarome served as the Interim Sports Information Director on two occasions, the last being from October 2002 until May 2003.

Source: Peach Belt Conference

FORMER GC&SU PITCHER SIGNS PRO DEAL

SAUGET, Illinois – Former Georgia College & State University pitcher
Christian Castorri has agreed to terms with the Gateway Grizzlies of
the Frontier League.

Castorri, a right-hander from Thomasville, Ga., recently finished his
senior season at GCSU after helping the Bobcats to a 53-12
record and their first ever Peach Belt Conference Championship.

Castorri went 7-3 with a 2.97 earned run average in 18 appearances and 12 starts for the Bobcats in 2006. He struck out 47 batters in 69.2 innings, while allowing only 18 walks and holding opposing hitters to a .258 batting average.

“This is a great opportunity for Christian,” GCSU coach Chris Calciano
said. “The Frontier League is a terrific league which attracts scouts
from major league teams, so this is a good chance for him to continue his baseball career.”

The Frontier League is a very successful professional independent
baseball league with ten teams located in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

Sources: Georgia College & State University Sports Information and Gateway Grizzlies

MORE FROM THE MLB DRAFT

Six more players from D-II South Nation were taken in last week's Major League Baseball draft, five from the Gulf South Conference, and one from the SIAC. Following is the list of players drafted, with position and round listed in parentheses.

KEY:

Player Name (Pos.)
Pick number (Round number)
College/University
Organization of drafted player

James Barksdale (OF)
440th overall pick (Round 15)
North Alabama
Pittsburgh Pirates

Aubrey Miller (P)
685th overall pick (Round 23)
Arkansas Tech
Baltimore Orioles

Andy Jackson (P)
785th overall pick (Round 26)
Central Arkansas
Florida Marlins

Ryne Lawson (P)
913th overall pick (Round 30)
West Alabama
Boston Red Sox

Jeremy Hambrice (OF)
934th overall pick (Round 31)
Southern Arkansas
New York Mets

Sanduan Dubose
1,052nd overall pick (Round 35)
Stillman College
Milwaukee Brewers

SIX PBC BASEBALL PLAYERS TAKEN IN DRAFT

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Six Peach Belt Conference baseball players were selected in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which concluded on Wednesday evening. USC Upstate’s Brandon Williams was the first conference player selected in the draft, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 860th pick in the 29th round. Francis Marion’s Lee Tabor was also selected as were GC&SU’s Mike Deveaux and Michael Antonini. USC Aiken’s Nick Wandless and Robert Davis were also drafted.

Brandon Williams, from Tega Cay, SC, came to USC Upstate as a walk-on and earned a scholarship. Along the way, he worked his way into being one of the top pitchers in the history of the program. After four years in the program, Williams finished his career as USC Upstate’s all-time strikeouts leader with 202, surpassing the old mark of 158 in the first month of the season. He finished his career with an 18-11 record with 52 appearances and 42 starts in 245.1 innings of work.

Lee Tabor was taken with the 894th pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 30th round. This past season, the Manning native posted an 8-5 record with a 3.19 earned run average. He completed eight of 16 starts with one shutout, and ranked among the NCAA Division II leaders in strikeouts with 118 in 115.2 innings. Opponents batted only .238 against him. Tabor helped lead the Patriots to their most successful season ever with a 41-18 record, earning a No. 6 national ranking, and advancing to the 2006 NCAA Division II College World Series. An honorable mention All-American in 2005, he owns an 18-10 career mark with a 2.84 ERA in three seasons at FMU. He has fanned 230 batters in 243.2 innings.

GC&SU’s Mike Deveaux was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 997th pick in the 33rd round. DeVeaux, a senior shortstop from Statesboro, GA, earned Second Team All-American honors for the second straight year. He batted .347 and was tied for the team and Peach Belt Conference lead with 10 home runs, while leading the league with 78 RBI. He also stroked 18 doubles and three triples, while scoring 53 runs and led the conference with 144 total bases. He also ranked seventh in the PBC with a .556 slugging percentage. He was the PBC Player of the Year as a junior in 2005.

USC Aiken’s Nick Wandless was also selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 1074th pick in the 36th round. Wandless, a native of Evans, Ga., was named a First-Team All-American at the conclusion of the 2006 season. He became the first Pacer pitcher in a decade to earn All-Conference honors. The four-year closer for USC Aiken turned in a 2-1 record with 17 saves and a 1.56 earned run average, striking out 48 and walking just nine in 34.2 innings pitched. He held opponents to a .137 batting average. For his career, Wandless set a new NCAA record for career appearances with 114, breaking the 17-year-old mark of 109. He is also the school’s, conference’s, and NCAA’s all-time saves leader with 32.

GC&SU’s Michael Antonini was taken by the Phillies in the 41st round with the 1237th selection. A junior left-handed pitcher from Aston, PA, Antonini was named All-American in his first year with the Bobcats after posting an 11-1 record with a 2.93 earned run average in 16 appearances and 15 starts. He tallied 63 strikeouts with only 20 walks in 101.1 innings pitched. He was tied with teammate Michael Newman for second place in the conference in victories.

USC Aiken’s Robert Davis was the final PBC player drafted, taken by the San Francisco Giants in the 50th round with the 1484th pick. Davis led the Pacers in batting average (.345), hits (89), doubles (22), home runs (5), slugging percentage (.488), and RBI (57) in earning ABCA First-Team All-Region honors behind the plate. His 22 doubles ranked second in the PBC while he was fifth in runs batted in. In addition, the senior from Evans, Ga. was third in runs scored with 44. Davis set single season records in 2006 for at bats (258) and games played (64).

Sources: Major League Baseball and Peach Belt Conference

MONTEVALLO BASEBALL SEASON ENDS

The University of Montevallo baseball team saw its run in the NCAA Division II World Series come to an end with a 9-5 loss to Chico State (Calif.) Thursday afternoon. Wednesday, the Falcons (43-18) staved off elimination by ousting West Chester (Pa.) 10-3.

Click here for a recap of the Falcons season-ending loss to Chico State, who will face Tampa in Saturday's national title game.

FRANCIS MARION, MONTEVALLO FALL IN D-II WORLD SERIES

Only one team will be left to be the carry the banner for D-II South Nation in the 2006 NCAA Division II World Series at Montgomery, Ala., as Francis Marion (41-18) saw its record-breaking season come to a heartbreaking end with a 3-2 loss to West Chester (Pa.) in 10 innings in an elimination game Monday afternoon. The 41 wins are the most in school history for FMU in baseball.

In the nightcap, Montevallo also lost a tough game to the top-ranked Spartans of the University of Tampa 5-4. The Falcons (42-17) will face West Chester in an elimination game Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. CDT.

NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Website

D-II WORLD SERIES

D-II WORLD SERIES--at Montgomery, Ala.

NOTE: Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Francis Marion (41-17) vs. West Chester (39-19)--2:30 p.m. CDT

After a 4-3 loss to Tampa in Saturday's opener, the Patriots face a must-win situation against the Golden Rams.

Montevallo (42-16) vs. Tampa (51-6)--6:30 p.m. CDT

Unlike FMU, the Falcons were successful in their first-ever D-II World Series contest, as they edged West Chester 3-2 Saturday, thanks to pinch hitter Derek Simmons getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning. But now UM faces a much tougher task in the nationally top-ranked Spartans in Monday's nightcap.

LINKS

NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Homepage

NCAA Sports.com

UM Internet Broadcast Link

D-II WORLD SERIES PREVIEW

NCAA DIVISION II BASEBALL WORLD SERIES--at Montgomery, Ala.

Saturday, May 27

Francis Marion (41-16) vs. Tampa (50-6)--1 p.m. CDT

Montevallo (41-16) vs. West Chester (38-18)--6:30 p.m. CDT

Both the Patriots and Falcons will play in their first-ever NCAA Division II World Series games after winning the South Atlantic and South Central Regional titles, respectively, in dramatic fashion. FMU might have the tougher of the two assignments, however, as the Patriots face a top-ranked Spartans squad that has lost just a half-dozen games all season, and went a perfect 4-0 record en route to winning the South Regional crown last weekend.

USC UPSTATE TO NCAA DIVISION I--AN ANALYSIS

For those people who haven't heard the news by now, yet another Peach Belt Conference school is leaving the NCAA Division II ranks for the supposedly greener pastures of NCAA Division I, as the University of South Carolina-Upstate became the third current or former PBC member to join the Atlantic Sun Conference. By moving into the A-Sun fold, Upstate will follow in the footsteps of former perennial PBC powers Kennesaw State and North Florida, who not long ago were among the best all-around athletic programs in the D-II ranks.

What is it about NCAA Division II schools choosing to move up to Division I? Is it the perceived national exposure such an institution gets just from competing at the highest level of college sports? Or about the potential revenue a school even from having the school's name show up on the ESPN "Bottom Line" sports ticker during the college basketball season, let alone having a few games carried on regional television? Or is it that Division II is perceived to be a lower caliber of athletic competition? And what factor, if any, did George Mason's improbable run to the NCAA Division I men's basketball Final Four play in the decision of a few schools to leave Division II? Whatever the reasons are, Division I seems to be growing at the expense of D-II, as many powerful programs continue to make the move up.

But it doesn't end there. Francis Marion, whose women's soccer and men's golf programs recently completed their inaugural seasons at the D-I level, may seriously consider moving the rest of their sports to D-I status eventually. Just up the road in North Carolina, UNC Pembroke could be a serious candidate to make the move as well, especially with the school reinstating its football program in 2007, which would give it 15 sports, one more over the required number of sports to compete at the NCAA Division I level.

And the moves aren't limited to the Peach Belt Conference, either. In fact, the University of Central Arkansas has already left the Gulf South Conference for the Southland Conference. Other current GSC members such as Alabama-Huntsville, Delta State, and West Georgia, may decide to follow suit with UCA in the years to come. Even Florida Gulf Coast, a school that didn't open its doors until 1997, will move into the D-I ranks within two years.

So, the question that remains to be asked is this. How much attrition will the NCAA Division II level suffer before the caliber and quality of competition do? Whatever the answer may be, D-II South Nation may very well have a different look in the long run.

PEACH BELT CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES ALL-SPORTMANSHIP TEAM

Release courtesy of Peach Belt Conference

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference and commissioner Marvin Vanover are pleased to announce the first-ever PBC All-Sportsmanship from the conference office in Augusta. One male and one female student-athlete from each of the league’s 11 member schools were placed on the team.

Each PBC member institution selected their own representative to appear on the team on criteria set by each school. However, each student-athlete on the All-Sportsmanship team has demonstrated consistently good sportsmanship and ethical behavior in his or her daily participation in PBC athletics and good citizenship outside of their sports setting. Each member of the All-Sportsmanship team will receive a certificate from the Peach Belt Conference.

2006 Peach Belt Conference

Female All-Sportsmanship Team

Alicia Durham, Armstrong Atlantic State

Brooke Southerland, Augusta State

Carlie Anderson, Clayton State

Erin Gibbs, Columbus State

Jamie Wiggins, Francis Marion

Beth Coughlin, GC&SU

Corrie Bessinger, Lander

Katie Williamson, North Georgia

Alecia Hill, UNC Pembroke

Mindy Allee, USC Aiken

Yakeeshia Ross, USC Upstate

2006 Peach Belt Conference

Male All-Sportsmanship Team

Alex Carter, Armstrong Atlantic State

Lindy Blount, Augusta State

Matt Beall, Clayton State

Will Davis, Columbus State

Mike Greenaway, Lander

Michael Antonini, GC&SU

Ryan Peck, Lander

Anders Oster, North Georgia

Tom Martin, UNC Pembroke

Keol Newton, USC Aiken

Diego Sist, USC Upstate

FRANCIS MARION, MONTEVALLO ADVANCE TO WORLD SERIES

D-II South Nation will have two of the eight representatives at the NCAA Division II World Series in Montgomery, Ala. after both Francis Marion University and the University of Montevallo won their respective regional titles Sunday. The Patriots bounced back from a 7-0 shutout loss to Georgia College & State University in the first South Atlantic Regional title game to win the nightcap 7-4 in Milledgeville, Ga.

Meanhwile, hundreds of miles away in Abilene, Tex., the Falcons completed an undefeated run through the South Central Regional by edging Incarnate Word (Tex.) 9-8 in the title game Sunday. It will be the first-ever appearances for both FMU and UM in the D-II national tournament.

Recaps

South Atlantic Regional Final

South Central Regional Final

USC UPSTATE JOINS ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE

Seems like the NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference is getting to be very good at raiding the NCAA Division II ranks, especially the Peach Belt Conference, for new members. On Tuesday, the PBC lost its third member in the last two years, as the University of South Carolina-Upstate accepted an invitation to become the 12th member of the A-Sun, joining soon-to-be fellow D-II transplant Florida Gulf Coast University, as well as former PBC members Kennesaw State University of North Florida. Analysis to come.

More coverage:

Peach Belt Conference Press Release

USC Upstate NCAA Division I Website

NCAA BASEBALL SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

The NCAA Monday morning announced the 48 teams who will compete for the 2006 Division II baseball national championship. And D-II South Nation is well represented, as the Peach Belt Conference, to no one's surprise, earned five of the six bids in the South Atlantic Regional, while Montevallo, Southern Arkansas, and West Alabama were the lone Gulf South Conference teams selected South Atlantic Regional. In the South Regional, Albany State University (Ga.) earned its first-ever NCAA tournament bid after winning the SIAC tournament last month.

Here are the complete pairings for the South, South Atlantic, and South Central Regional tournaments, courtesy of NCAA Sports.com. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South Regional at Tampa, Florida

1. *Tampa 46-6

2. Florida Gulf Coast 39-15

3. Catawba 44-12

4. Florida Southern 38-17

5. Lynn 33-21

6. Albany State (Georgia) 23-31

South Atlantic Regional at Milledgeville, Georgia

1. *GC&SU 49-10

2. Francis Marion 37-15

3. Columbus State 41-18

4. Armstrong Atlantic State 39-16-1

5. South Carolina-Aiken 43-17

6. Mount Olive 39-12

South Central Regional at Abilene, Texas

1. *Abilene Christian 43-16

2. Southern Arkansas 38-16

3. Montevallo 37-16

4. West Alabama 41-20

5. Central Oklahoma 40-18

6. Incarnate Word 36-19

CSU WINS PEACH BELT BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

AIKEN, S.C.--The Columbus State Cougars scored four runs in the first and added another in the second as they defeated top-ranked Georgia College & State University 8-4 in the championship game of the 2006 PBC Tournament in Aiken, S.C. With the win, the Cougars improve to 41-18 on the season while GC&SU falls to 49-10.

The Cougars jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning as Kurt McKee led the game off with a double and later scored off an RBI single from Billy Howard. Brad Shea then delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run double to right. Trent Bianco finished the scoring with an RBI single.

The Cougars built the lead up to five runs in the second inning on an RBI single from Drew Candlin that scored Jonnie Geiger. That was enough to force GC&SU starting pitcher Ryan Tabor (L, 0-1) from the game after an inning and 2/3, allowing five runs on six hits.

The Bobcats struck back in the fourth with a pair of runs. Casey Cullen doubled with one out to score Mike Deveaux, who was one of three Bobcats hit by a pitch in the game. Cullen was moved to third on a Wes Sorrells hit, then the bases were loaded as Kyle Shisler was hit by a pitch. Tripp Burt then grounded out to third, scoring Cullen but leaving runners at second and third with two out. Columbus State starter Bryan Kilgore (W, 1-3) got out of the jam by getting Rich Janofsky to ground out to short.

The Bobcats added another run in the seventh on an RBI line drive by Hans Stancil, but again left two runners on base. The Bobcats stranded nine runners in the game.

Columbus State put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs on a bizarre play that featured two throwing errors by the GC&SU defense that, in essence, allowed McKee to circle the bases for an inside the park home run with two runners on.

Paul Able pitched the ninth inning to close the door on the Bobcats. Johnny Floyd, who was named All-Tournament, pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, his third appearance in the PBC Tournament.

CSU’s Billy Howard was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after going 1-4 with a run and an RBI. Candlin, Linton, Bianco and Shea all had two hits for the Cougars. Shea was also named All-Tournament.

Justin Mills was the only Bobcat with more than one hit as he went 2-for-5. Casey Cullen, named All-Tournament, went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Both GC&SU and Columbus State are all but assured of spots in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional tournament which begins next week. The tournament bracket is expected to be released on Monday morning.

Release courtesy of Columbus State University Sports Information

GC&SU SOFTBALL WINS SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL TITLE!

Columbus, GA - In a marathon pitchers' duel of epic proportions here Sunday night and early Monday morning, Georgia College & State University finally broke through in the 16th inning with four runs and went on to a 4-1 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in the championship game of the South Atlantic Regional. The rally broke a scoreless tie in a duel between freshmen hurlers Mandy Chandler of GC & SU and Casey Hanes of LRC.

"I am so shocked, I just don't believe it," said Lady Bobcat coach Ginger Miller. "Lenoir-Rhyne is a great team and they would certainly represent our region well."Chandler, named the tournament's MVP, fanned 23 hitters (a new school record) and allowed just seven hits in the game. She carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Hanes broke it up with a soft single to shallow center field. "Mandy has a lot of heart, in fact our whole team does. She never gave up and we just kept fighting. I am so proud," added Miller.

Hanes was almost as dominant. The freshman fanned 15 and walked just two hitters and did not allow an earned run. She pitched a total of 46 innings in the tournament for the Bears."We played hard and they played hard," said Bears coach Shena Hollar. "Unfortunately I felt we just didn't get the breaks. I am proud of this team, though - it has been a great season.

"GC & SU (44-11) got a single from Diana Baruffa with one out to start the rally in the sixteenth. Heather Jones then dropped down a bunt to move the runner, but the throw was mishandled at first for an error, putting runners at second and third. Keidra Baitey was intentionally walked and then Nikki Smith reached on another error and two runs scored on the play to make it 2-0. Aundrea Baker then tripled down the left field line to plate two more.

LRC (52-12-1) did not go quietly, however. Meredith O'Connor singled to lead off the inning adn Leah Krohn followed with a single an out later. After Angela Beard fouled out, Karie Pushard delivered a run-scoring single and brought the tying run to the plate. Chandler coerced a popup off the bat of Chrissy Lunsford to end the game and start the celebration for the Lady Bobcats.

Baker and Pushard were the only players for either team to collect more than one hit as the pitchers were in complete control of the game. GC & SU now advances to the Division II Softball Championship beginning Thursday in Salem, VA. It is second trip for the Lady Bobcats after the 2003 team finished as national runners-up.

Source: Columbus State University Sports Information

PBC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT UPDATE

AIKEN, South Carolina --Georgia College & State University scored twice in the top of the tenth inning to pull out a 2-0 victory over USC Aiken Saturday night at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. GCSU (49-9) advances to the championship game of the tournament and will play Sunday at 4 p.m. against the winner of the USC Aiken (43-16)/Columbus State elimination semifinal.

Neither team could push a run across in regulation, forcing the extra frame. GCSU's Mike DeVeaux drew a one out walk and advanced to second and third base on wild pitches. He would score the first run on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Wes Sorrells. Nick Waldrip provided an insurance run with an RBI single to bring home Casey Cullen. The Pacers were retired in order in the bottom of the inning to send the Bobcats to the championship game.

Matt Howard (6-0) picked up the win in relief for GCSU after holding the Pacers scoreless for 3.1 innings on one hit with three strikeouts. Nick Wandless (2-1) took the loss in relief for USC Aiken after allowing two runs on one hit with two walks in 1.1 innings.

Brandon Anderson went 2-for-4, while Justin Mills went 2-for-5 to lead GCSU at the plate. Mike Wadowski went 3-for-4 to lead USC Aiken.

Information courtesy of Georgia College & State University.

GC&SU BASEBALL ELIMINATES ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE

AIKEN, South Carolina--Georgia College & State University stayed alive in the Peach Belt Conference Baseball Tournament Saturday with a 14-5 victory over Armstrong Atlantic State University. GCSU (48-9) advances to Saturday night's 7 p.m. semifinal against USC Aiken.

Trailing 4-3 after four innings, GCSU scored three in the fifth and exploded for six runs in the sixth inning for a 12-4 lead. Mike DeVeaux led a 17-hit Bobcat attack by going 5-for-6 with three doubles and five RBI, while Casey Cullen added four RBI in a 2-for-5 performance, and Hans Stancil went 3-for-5 with four runs scored and four stolen bases. Daniel Heflin went 4-for-4 with one RBI to lead AASU (39-16-1 PBC).

Jayson Bennett (1-2) picked up the win in relief for the Bobcats after allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks in four innings. Austin Ducey (5-6) took the loss for the Pirates after allowing three runs on two hits with three walks in 1.1 innings of relief.

AASU is eliminated from the tournament.

Information courtesy of Georgia College & State University

PEACH BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

PEACH BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT--at Aiken, SC--May 11-14

Thursday's games--All Times EDT

#1 GC&SU vs. #6 USC Upstate--11 a.m.

#2 Francis Marion vs. #5 Armstrong Atlantic--3 p.m.

#3 Columbus State vs. #6 USC Aiken--7 p.m.

Analysis: With five of the six teams currently ranked in the most recent Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II national poll (GC&SU #1, FMU #5, CSU #15, USCA #16, and AASU #23), and a sixth team (Upstate) also receiving votes, this should be a very competitive tournament. Also, it doesn't hurt that seven of the nine teams in the latest South Atlantic Regional poll also call the PBC home, with five of those aforementioned squads (GC&SU, FMU, AASU, CSU, and USCA) ranked one through five respectively. It's too bad at least one of those teams may end up being left out of the NCAA tournament field come next weekend.

PBC Tournament Web Site

NCAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

The pairings for the 2006 NCAA Division II softball tournament were announced yesterday, and D-II South Nation had a decent showing in the selection process, as eight of the 16 teams in both the South and South Atlantic regional brackets combined came from either the Gulf South Conference, the Peach Belt Conference, or the SIAC. The PBC placed four teams in the South Atlantic Regional, while the GSC sent three teams, and the SIAC one team, respectively, to the South Regional.

Here are the complete pairings for both regionals. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL--May 11-15 at Columbus, Ga.

#3 Wingate (45-9) vs. #6 Carson-Newman (40-13)

#2 GC&SU (40-11) vs. #7 Armstrong Atlantic State (37-25)

#4 Lenoir-Rhyne (49-10-1) vs. #5 USC Upstate (41-16-1)

#1 Columbus State (38-13) vs. #8 Queens (33-22)

SOUTH REGIONAL--May 11-15 at Lakeland, Fla.

#3 Alabama-Huntsville (48-15) vs. #6 Saint Leo (37-18)

#2 Barry (37-11) vs. #7 Valdosta State (38-22)

#4 North Alabama (39-18) vs. #5 Florida Gulf Coast (57-7)

#1 Florida Southern (49-5) vs. #8 Kentucky State (26-8)

South Regional Website

NCAA Sports.com

FRANCIS MARION HOOPS COACH NAMED

FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion athletic director Murray Hartzler announced on Wednesday, April 26 the hiring of Gary Edwards of Indiana (Pa.) as the university's new head coach for men's basketball. The announcement was made at a news conference at The Cottage on the FMU campus.

Edwards, 48, replaces John Schweitz, whose contract was not renewed following the 2005-06 season.

The Virginia Beach, Va., native comes to Francis Marion after 10 seasons as head coach at NCAA Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He guided the Indians to a 206-88 mark, including five 20-win campaigns, and four trips to the Division II national tournament. Under his guidance, IUP advanced to the Elite Eight twice (2000 and 2002) and participated in the 2002 Final Four. He is the winningest coach in the program's long history.

His career coaching mark stands at 389-256 in 22 seasons on the bench.Edwards returns to South Carolina, where he still ranks as the winningest coach at Division I Charleston Southern University. In nine seasons, he guided the Buccaneers to 121 wins. His 1995 CSU squad won the Big South Conference title, and he twice earned Big South Conference "Coach of theYear" honors.

He also previously coached at Barton College (then Atlantic Christian College), compiling a 62-35 mark in three seasons and leading the Bulldogs to two NAIA national tournament appearances.

Prior to his arrival, the Bulldogs had suffered through 19 consecutive losing seasons.

"We are extremely pleased to have Gary join our staff," Hartzler said. "Given his background at both the Division I and Division II levels, he became the right choice at the right time to lead our program. His career record speaks for itself, and we feel he possesses all the qualities we are looking for to run a complete program, both on and off the court."FMU president Dr. Fred Carter added, "In hiring a new coach, we focused on three key criteria: the necessity for achieving a winning program, recruiting and graduating student-athletes, and cultivating strong support within the community. We feel that Gary will be successful at all three of these."

Edwards received a B.A. degree in English (magna cum laude) from Virginia Wesleyan College, where he was recognized as an academic All-American on the basketball court in 1979. He later earned a master's degree from Old Dominion University.

His coaching career began in 1979 as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at his alma mater, Virginia Wesleyan. He then served as an assistant coach at Hofstra University for two years before taking over the Barton program."In many ways, this is like coming home for me," Edwards said. "I am originally from the South, and have had many good experiences in South Carolina. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to lead this program. Under Dr. Carter's leadership, some exciting things are in the offing, and I am anxious to do what I can to help the cause."

Edwards, who has two teenage children, becomes the sixth head coach in the 36-year history of the FMU men's basketball program.

Francis Marion returns seven lettermen, but no starters, from last season's 12-16 squad that placed eighth during the Peach Belt Conference regular season.

(Source Francis Marion Sports Information)

Additional coverage courtesy of d2basketball.com.