2009 Atlanta Regional

Capsules compiled by Christina De Nicola, Duncan Phillips, Sean Ryan, Phil Stanton

1. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Atlanta, Georgia

At-large bid from ACC

2009 record: 17-10-1, 35-17-1 (second in Coastal Division)

Head coach: Danny Hall (Miami (Ohio), 1977)

Record at school: 687-311-1, 16 years

Overall record: 895-428-1, 22 years

Assistant coaches: Tom Kinkelaar, Bryan Prince, Matt White   

Team offense: .318 BA, 459 R, 104 HR, .549 SLG%, .412 OB%, 47-67 SB

Team pitching: 4.68 ERA, 471 IP, 480 H, 214 BB, 487 K

Top hitters: Luke Murton (.363/18/57), Tony Plagman (.357/16/67), Jeff Rowland (.348/8/35/18-23 SB), Jason Haniger (.324/8/48), Derek Dietrich (.306/9/49), Matt Skole (.301/15/50), Chase Burnette (.376/8/28)

Top pitchers: Deck McGuire (10-1, 3.15 ERA, 91.1 IP, 70 H, 40 BB, 106 K), Brandon Cumpton (4-2, 4.83 ERA, 59.2 IP, 71 H, 19 BB, 60 K), Zach von Tersch (6-2, 5.62 ERA, 57.2 IP, 61 H, 28 BB, 48 K), Zach Brewster (1-3, 1 SV, 3.19 ERA, 31 IP, 21 H, 16 BB, 34 K), Jack Davies (2-0, 3.33, 27 IP ERA, 21 H, 15 BB, 24 K), Mark Pope (5-1, 7 SV, 7.36 ERA, 22 IP, 29 H, 15 BB, 20 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2008 (2-2 in Athens Regional)

Notes: Georgia Tech makes its 25th appearance overall, its 23rd over the past 25 years. The Yellow Jackets' Russ Chandler Stadium (the "Rusty C"), which was rebuilt in 2002, will host its ninth regional since 1987. Tech leads the ACC with 104 home runs, 21 more than Florida State with 83, and the program has eclipsed the 90-home run mark just 11 times since the late 1890's, with seven of those seasons coming under head coach Danny Hall. Friday night starter Deck McGuire was named the ACC Pitcher of the year, going undefeated until the ACC tourney. He's 18-2 in his career. The lineup includes three players who have been drafted in the past two years: right fielder senior Luke Murton (2007, 2008), sophomore shortstop Derek Dietrich (2007) and senior catcher Jason Haniger (2008). Luke Murton is the brother of former Tech star and current Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Murton. The younger Murton, who slugs .721, has hit 45 homers in his career, fifth in school history and more than anyone Tech player the past 12 years. Haniger was named one of 30 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Although young, the Tech pitching staff strikes out about nine batters a game, which ranks in the top 20 in the country.

2. Elon Phoenix

Elon, North Carolina

At-large bid from Southern Conference

2009 record: 23-4, 40-17 (first in Southern)

Head coach: Mike Kennedy (Elon, 1991)

Record at school: 435-305-3, 14 years

Overall record: Same

Assistant coaches: Greg Starbuck, Robbie Huffstetler, Nick Brannon

Team offense: .324 BA, 581 R, 131 HR, .598 SLG%, .428 OB%, 111/138 SB

Team pitching: 6.01 ERA, 508 IP, 595 H, 235 BB, 418 K

Top hitters: Pat Irvine (.414/17/55/18-24 SB), Chase Austin (.369/22/77/18-19 SB), Mike Melillo (.343/18/59), Cory Harrilchak (.339/15/59), Bennett Davis (.330/14/56), Justin Hilt (.300/16/55), Neal Pritchard (.282/9/40), Dallas Tarleton (.279/13/45).

Top pitchers: Thomas Girdwood (0-2, 4.01, 17 SV, 24.2 IP, 27 H, 12 BB, 37 K), Jimmy Reyes (7-0, 4.93, 76.2 IP, 90 H, 18 BB, 87 K), Ken Ferrer (8-1, 4.99, 70.1 IP, 87 H, 35 BB, 51 K), Daniel Britt (8-0, 5.34, 60.2 IP, 75 H, 20 BB, 38 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 2008 (1-2 at Cary Regional)

Notes: Elon is in the tourney for the third time in four years and fourth time overall after winning 17 straight Southern Conference games to close the regular season. It has posted back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time in school history. The Phoenix can flat out hit, ranking second in the county in runs (10.7) per game, first in home runs (2.43 a game, 124 for the season) and second in slugging percentage (.602). Pat Irvine is fifth in the county in slugging (.818) and has 32 extra-base hits. Chase Austin ranks in the top 20 with a program-record 22 homers and has 28 multi-hit and 20 multi-RBI games. In all, Elon has seven players with more than 10 homers. They, and others, helped take pressure off superstars Cory Harrilchak and Bennett Davis, who still posted solid numbers. Entering the SoCon tourney, Harrilchak had reached base in 84 straight games dating to last year. The recipient of the offense has been a pitching staff that allows opponents to hit .296. Amazingly, Elon is 20-5 when allowing 6-9 runs. Sophomore lefty Jimmy Reyes turned into the ace of the staff and is 10-0 in his career. Closer Thomas Girdwood has 17 saves, but opponents hit .287 off him.

3. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

At-large bid from Conference USA

2008 record: 12-12, 35-23 (fifth in C-USA)

Head coach: Corky Palmer (Southern Miss, 1977)

Record at school: 453-278, 12 years

Overall record: 953-490, 22 years

Assistant coaches: Scott Berry, Chad Caillet, Richy Harrelson

Team offense: .306 BA, 440 R, 56 HR, .455 SLG%, .402 OBP, 44-65 SB

Team pitching: 4.72 ERA, 499.1 IP, 539 H, 209 BB, 391 K

Top hitters: Bo Davis (.363/10/47/10-11 SB), Kameron Brunty (.352/6/48), Corey Stevens (.335/7/52/14 2B), Taylor Walker (.305/3/29/11 2B), James Ewing (.304/3/37), Joey Archer (.289/9/53/10 2B), Tyler Koelling (.278/2/25)

Top pitchers: Todd McInnis (8-4, 2.76 ERA, 81.2 IP, 76 H, 24 BB, 70 K), Collin Cargill (3-3, 9 SV, 2.78 ERA, 32.1 IP, 21 H, 20 BB, 30 K), JR Ballinger (5-3, 3.88 ERA, 72 IP, 73 H, 30 BB, 56 K), Jeff Stanley (4-1, 3.92 ERA, 39 IP, 41 H, 18 BB, 23 K), Cody Schlagel (5-1, 4.26, 44.1 IP, 39 H, 23 BB, 38 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2008 (2-2 at Baton Rouge Regional)

Notes: The Golden Eagles are making their seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Southern Miss has made 10 NCAA trips, all since 1990. Head coach Corky Palmer announced he would be retiring at the end of this season. Associate head coach Scott Berry will succeed Palmer. Todd McInnis was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. Bo Davis joined McInnis on the all-C-USA first team. Brian Dozier was second team and Kameron Brunty made the all-freshman team. Dozier has not played since April 14 after suffering a fractured clavicle.

4. Georgia State Panthers
Atlanta, Georgia
Automatic bid – won Colonial Athletic Association Tournament
2009 record: 12-9, 39-20 (second in CAA)
Head coach: Greg Frady  (Troy State, 1987)
Record at school: 98-75, 3 years
Overall record: 285-187, 9 years
Assistant coaches: Blaine McFerrin, Brad Stromdahl, Peter Wermuth
Team offense: .310 BA, 479 R, 72 HR, .474 SLG%, .406 OB%, 87-115 SV
Team pitching: 5.41 ERA, 519 IP, 585 H, 255 BB, 459 K
Top hitters: Marc Mimeault (.394/14/58), Matt Van Horn (.358/6/38/12-17 SB), Derek
Simmons (.321/12/52/14 2B), Chase Childers (.312/7/53/12-16 SB), Bradley Logan (.306/9/47/11-12 SB), Nick Hogan (.298/4/25/16-18 SB), Carl Moniz (.270/10/39)
Top pitchers: Justin Malone (1-0, 7 SV, 1.46 ERA, 24.2 IP, 19 H, 6 BB, 21 K), Aidan Francis (5-1, 3 SV, 4.02 ERA, 53.2 IP, 47 H, 16 BB, 55 K), Ryan Moore (7-1, 4.35 ERA, 78.2 IP, 80 H, 29 BB, 60 K), Will Palmer (5-5, 5.25 ERA, 84 IP, 93 H, 34 BB, 76 K)

Last NCAA appearance: First appearance
Notes: Georgia State won its first-ever baseball conference title and will make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers set a school record with 39 wins. Georgia State has won eight straight, matching a school record, and are 13-2 in May. Bradley Logan was CAA tourney MVP after hitting four homers. Marc Mimeault (14) and Derek Simmons (12) have moved onto the single season Top Ten list for home runs. The bullpen has record a school-record 19 saves. The Panthers are 32-1 when leading after eight. Justin Malone earned a win and two saves in the CAA Tournament.