FMU signs SC and FL basketball guards

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-1 guard Philip Jenkins of Goose Creek, S.C., and 6-2 guard Michael Highsmith of Sanford, Fla., have signed national letters of intent to attend FMU and play for Patriots this season.
Jenkins is a graduate of Goose Creek High School, where he played for coach Brad Dobbels.
This past season, he averaged 21.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading the Gators to a 27-2 record and the AAAA state championship. He scored 33 points in the title game win.
A two-time All-State selection, he was named the High School Sports Reports’ AAAA Statewide Player of the Year for 2008-09, and he was selected to play in the 2009 Carolinas All-Star Classic.
He was also an honor roll student at Goose Creek.
Highsmith is a product of Lake Brantley High School, where he played for coach Michael Cuff.
As a senior, he averaged 20 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game. He was a first-team All-Conference pick, earned his team’s most valuable player award, and was named to the Orlando Sentinel’s Top 30 Seniors List.
He holds Lake Brantley’s single season record for points (587).
“Philip was an important member of Goose Creek’s state championship team and he knows how to win,” said Edwards. “He can score in a variety of ways and is also a good defender. He is a good, young guard who will grow with our program.
“Mike is a big guard who was under recruited in Florida and we feel very fortunate to have him join our program. He is a diamond-in-the rough who may be ready to compete in the Peach Belt earlier than a typical freshman.”
The two signees bring to nine the number of newcomers on the Patriot roster for 2009-2010.
Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

FMU Baseball Players listed in final NCAA stats

Six Francis Marion University baseball players were listed in the final 2009 NCAA Division II baseball statistical report, while the Patriots ranked highly in several team categories.
Junior right-handed pitcher Brandon Forshee (Jacksonville, Fla.) ranked second nationally in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.44), 19th earned run average (2.08), and 88th in saves (4). Junior southpaw Josh Edgin (Three Springs, Pa.) was 79th in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.83), while senior righty David Walters (River Hill, Md.) ranked 97th in wins (7).
Junior Barrett Kleinknecht (Florence, S.C.) was listed among both batting and pitching stats. On the mound, he ranked 46th in saves (6). At the plate, he was 34th in hits (89), 45th in runs batted in (64), 55th in RBIs per game (1.19), 67th in total bases (136), and was the 56th toughest batter to strikeout, fanning only 15 times in 264 plate appearances.
Senior third baseman Keon Graves (Dillon, S.C.) ranked 40th in on-base percentage (.507) and 59th in batting average (.411), while junior outfielder Alex Lee (Blythewood, S.C.) was 46th in sacrifice bunts (10), 65th in walks (34), and 67th in triples (4).
In the team rankings, the Patriots ranked 15th in sacrifice flies (31), 16th in winning percentage (.713), 18th in sacrifice bunts (47), 28th in hits (628), 29th in fielding percentage (.965), 37th in double plays turned (45), 39th in both batting average (.333) and walks (222), 40th in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (9.39), 42nd in team ERA (4.34), 46th in hit-by-pitches (67), 48th in double plays turned per game (0.83), 49th in runs scored (410) and 51st in scoring (7.6 runs per game).
Francis Marion posted a 38-15-1 record in 2009 and finished second during the PBC regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.
Approximately 228 Division II institutions sponsor baseball.

Patriot cage team picks up transfer pair

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-6 swingman Andy Peterson of Sarasota, Fla., and 6-9 post player Andrew Smith of South Milwaukee, Wis., will transfer to FMU and join the Patriot program this fall.
Peterson will transfer to Francis Marion after two seasons at Manatee Community College in Florida.
This past season, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game and connected on 54.1 percent of his field goal attempts while earning second-team All-Suncoast Conference recognition.
As a freshman, he averaged 10 points and five rebounds per contest and shot 56.8 percent from the field as the Lancers posted a 17-14 record and made their first state tournament appearance in nine years.
A three-year starter in high school, he tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists per game as a senior at Sarasota High School. He gained first-team All-Area honors and was named the most valuable player of the 2007 Sarasota-Manatee County PAL Game.
The 260-pound Smith is transferring from the University of Texas-Pan American, where he played one season. As a freshman, he averaged 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds, while shooting 54.2 percent from field and 69.6 percent at the foul line.
He was a highly decorated player at South Milwaukee High School where he scored more than 1,000 points. He was a first-team All-State and All-Southeast Conference selection while also earning conference Player of the Year honors and being named an All-Star selection.
“Andy had an outstanding junior college career in Florida and is an experienced player who can play a variety of positions,” Edwards said. “He is very skilled, but slender, and I hope we will be able to play him away from the basket a little more in the Peach Belt.
“I am very pleased Andrew will be a part of our program for the next three years. He gives us size and strength around the basket, but he can also step away from the basket and shoot the ball. Each year we have tried to recruit more size and power and this addition keeps us moving in that important direction.”
The two transfers bring to seven the number of newcomers on the Patriot roster for 2009-2010.
Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

Former Patriot Justin Greene promoted in White Sox chain

Former Francis Marion University outfielder Justin Greene was promoted from Kannapolis to high Class A Winston-Salem within the Chicago White Sox organization on July 19.

Greene’s first at bat (a walk) with Winston-Salem was in Myrtle Beach against righty Tim Hudson, who was making a rehab start with the Pelicans. Winston-Salem is in the Class A Advanced Carolina League.

With Kannapolis, Greene was batting .303 with seven home runs, 24 runs batted in, a .394 on-base percentage, and 16 stolen bases.

Greene was selected by the White Sox in the 20th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. As a senior at FMU, he led the Patriots in hitting (.384), runs scored (54 in 54 games), sacrifice hits (11), slugging percentage (.581), stolen bases (16), and on-base percentage (.472). He ranked fifth in the Peach Belt Conference in hitting and third in on-base percentage.

He finished his Patriot career owning the school’s all-time records for runs scored (163), hit-by-pitches (48), and sacrifice hits (38).

Greene is one of five former Patriots currently playing professional baseball.

FMU product Bert Atkinson to play in US Senior Open

Francis Marion graduate and former Patriot golfer Bert Atkinson will play in his second consecutive U.S. Senior Open, next week in Carmel, Ind.

Atkinson, 51, lives in Charleston and is president of O'Connor Inc.

The 72-hole event begins on Thursday, July 30, at the par 72, 7,316-yard Crooked Stick Golf Club course. It is the longest course in U.S. Senior Open history. Television coverage will be on ESPN (Thursday and Friday 1-5 p.m. EDT) and NBC (Saturday and Sunday 3-6 p.m. EDT).

At the 2008 U.S. Senior Open in Colorado Springs, Colo., Atkinson made the cut and finished tied for 52nd with a 296 score, the third lowest score for an amateur at the event.

Atkinson transferred to Francis Marion for his senior year (1978-79). He led the Patriots that season with a 74.0 stroke average and was named an NAIA All-American. He was also named to the NAIA District Six All-District Team and was selected as the Francis Marion team MVP.

He helped lead the Patriots to the District Six team championship and to an eighth-place finish at the NAIA National Tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Atkinson placed seventh in the individual standings at the national tournament, seven strokes behind the medalist.

To qualify for his second U.S. Senior Open, Atkinson carded a 64 to win the sectional qualifying event last month at the Florence Country Club.

He was the runner-up at the 1991 U.S. Mid-Amateur where he lost to Jim Stuart 1-up. He advanced to the round of 16 at the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and set a stroke-play medalist record at the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur with a 36-hole total of 132. He has been named the South Carolina Player of the Year three times: 1991, 1995, and 1999.

Francis Marion signs Waxhaw righthander

Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the signing of right-handed pitcher TJ Miller of Waxhaw, N.C., to a national letter of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in 2010.

Miller, 6-3 195-pounds, is a graduate of Marvin Ridge High School, where he played for coaches Mark Mennitt and Aaron Hammers.

This past season, he was 0-1 with a 5.35 earned run average and averaged nearly six strikeouts per nine innings. He was the recipient of his squad’s Teammate of the Year Award, while helping lead the Mavericks to the third round of the North Carolina 3A state playoffs.

As a junior, he helped Marvin Ridge to a 19-5 record, the South Piedmont Conference title, and a No. 5 ranking in the final 3A state poll.

“TJ has a bright future given his size and arm strength,” said Inabinet. “He throws in the low 80’s and has a good change-up. I project him as a good college pitcher. He will mesh well with our current staff.”

Francis Marion loses four seniors off last year’s 38-15-1 squad that finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the end-of-the-season Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

He becomes the seventh newcomer to join the Patriot program for the 2010 season.

FMU adds two men’s basketball players

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-3 swingman Edward Gullatte of Shelby, N.C., and 6-9 center Mindaugas Petreikis of Siauliai, Lithuania will transfer to FMU and join the Patriot program this fall.

Gullatte will transfer to Francis Marion after two seasons at Denmark Technical College. This past season, he averaged 17 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals, and 3,4 assists per game playing for head coach (and former UNC standout) Donald Williams.

He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors both in college and high school. While at Shelby High School, he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the state championship game.

The 240-pound Petreikis is transferring from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill., where he played a pair of seasons. This past campaign, he averaged 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds for the 19-12 Trail Blazers, while shooting 66.0 percent from field and 71.8 percent at the foul line.
He attended Pace Academy in Atlanta as a foreign exchange student.

“Gullatte is a big, athletic guard who had an outstanding two years at Denmark Tech,” Edwards said. “What impresses me the most is his defensive intensity. He is a competitor who works very hard on the court and in the classroom.

“We knew Petreikis when he was a student at Pace and have followed his progress at John Wood. He has improved to the point where he can be a solid post player in the Peach Belt Conference. He is also an outstanding student.”

Both Gullatte and Petreikis were Dean’s List students at their respective colleges.

The two will join three other newcomers at Francis Marion this fall: 6-2 freshmen guard Evrik Gary of Camden, 5-11 junior guard Bryant Julious of Hemingway, and 6-6 junior forward Liki Turner of Richmond, Va.

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

Former Patriot pitcher earns Player of the Week honors

Former Francis Marion University right-handed pitcher Dylan Owen, a member of the New York Mets’ AA affiliate Binghamton Mets, has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending on July 5.

The 5-11, 185-pound hurler made a pair of starts for the B-Mets last week and posted a record of 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 0.00 earned run average in 13.2 innings pitched.

Owen made his first appearance of the week on June 29 and pitched 7.2 shutout innings while earning a no-decision in Binghamton’s 1-0, 10-inning win over the Akron Aeros. He struck out seven batters and walked just one while giving up four hits.

The 22-year-old also did not allow a run in his second start of the week on July 4 at NYSEG Stadium, tossing six shutout innings in a 4-0 victory over the Erie SeaWolves. The Chesterfield native struck out one batter while surrendering one walk and five hits to earn his first win of the season for the B-Mets.

Owen, who was named the 2008 Florida State League Most Valuable Pitcher after going 12-6 with 116 strikeouts and a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts for the St. Lucie Mets last season, was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round of the 2007 draft.

In his final season at Francis Marion, Owen was 10-1 with one save and a 1.14 earned run average. He struck out 121 batters in 102.1 innings pitched, walked only 19, and opponents hit just .208 against him, including a .178 figure by right-handed batters.

In three seasons at FMU, he compiled a 28-8 record with two saves, a 2.15 ERA, and a Peach Belt Conference career-record 334 strikeouts in 323 innings. Owen was named the 2007 NCAA Division II national Pitcher of the Year by two different voting groups, twice earned first-team Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-America honors, and was selected as the Peach Belt’s Pitcher of the Year for both 2006 and 2007.

SF standout returns to Florence, will play for FMU

Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced that former South Florence High School standout Brittany Cannon will be transferring from Santa Fe College to FMU and will play for the Patriots this coming season.

Cannon, a 5-8 native of Florence, is a left-handed center fielder. She played two honor-laden seasons for coach Chris Ahern at Santa Fe.

This past spring, she earned first-team All-American honors from both the NJCAA and the NFCA. She was named the FCCAA state Player of the Year following both of her seasons with the Saints. She was also a first-team NJCAA All-American as a freshman.

In 2009, she batted a school-record .508 with 74 runs scored, 12 doubles, 10 triples, six home runs, 40 runs batted in, and 51 stolen bases (in 53 attempts). She compiled a .528 on-base percentage and did not commit an error in 60 fielding chances. She helped lead Santa Fe to a 47-9 record and a Top 10 national ranking. She ranked seventh in the NJCAA in stolen bases, 12th in batting average, and 22nd in on-base percentage.

As a freshman, she set school records for hits (115), doubles (23), triples (15), and runs scored (85), while batting .491 with six home runs, 49 RBIs, and 50 stolen bases. She helped lead the Saints to a 62-5-1 record, the state championship, and a spot in the NJCAA national championship game.

She ended her two-year career owning the school’s career marks for hits, average, doubles, triples, runs scored, and stolen bases.

At South Florence, she played for coach Bobby Jones and helped the Bruins to a pair of AAAA state championships (2006, 2007). She earned numerous All-State honors and was named Miss Softball as a senior by the High School Sports Report.

“We are so excited about Brittany returning to Florence and attending Francis Marion,” said Vallee. “She may arguably be the most decorated recruit our program has ever signed. Her stats and honors speak for themselves. She will immediately fill our void in center field, and add power and speed to our line-up.”

Cannon will join nine players who previously committed to the Patriots: infielder Tristan Faile of Lancaster, S.C., catcher-outfielder Olivia Ferguson of Roanoke, Va., catcher-first baseman Annie Hegar of Jefferson, N.C., catcher-infielder Meghan Heiser of Sacramento, Calif., shortstop Jessica Hogan of Asheboro, N.C., right-handed pitcher Cea Knox of Myrtle Beach, right-handed pitcher Rayna McClinton of Columbia, left-handed pitcher Murphy McConnell of Milton, Ga., and utility player Jamie Ross of Cape Coral, Fla.

Francis Marion finished the 2009 season with a 32-19 record, and narrowly missed earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

FMU to play in Carolina’s Challenge in Myrtle Beach

Francis Marion University athletic officials have announced that the Patriot women’s basketball team will participate in the 2009 Carolina’s Challenge this December in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Francis Marion will play Bluefield (Va.) College at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. The University of North Carolina, coached by former FMU head coach Sylvia Hatchell, will meet the University of South Carolina at 3 p.m. and Coastal Carolina University will play Savannah State University in the nightcap at 5 p.m.

The annual challenge is held in conjunction with the prestigious Crescent Bank Holiday Invitational for high school girls’ teams.

“This is an extreme honor to be able to take part in this event,” said FMU head coach Heather Macy. “To play on a stage such as the Carolina’s Challenge, raises our program to a new level, both for exposure and recruiting.”

Francis Marion returns six letterwinners from last season’s 27-5 squad that ended the year ranked 14th nationally. The Patriots won their second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, made the program’s second straight NCAA Tournament appearance (reaching the round of Sweet Sixteen), and led the nation in scoring offense for the second year in a row.

Francis Marion will open its 27-game 2009-2010 schedule on Nov. 15 at home against Converse College. The slate includes 15 home games.

Patriot men cagers gain services of Shepherd transfer

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced the addition of 6-6 junior forward Liki Turner, who is transferring from Shepherd College to FMU and will play for the Patriots this season.

Turner is a native of Richmond, Va., and was a two-sport (football and basketball) letterman at Benedictine High School. He averaged 10 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a senior, while teaming with University of North Carolina signee Ed Davis as Benedictine posted a 29-3 record and won the Virginia Independent Schools Division I championship.

At Shepherd, he earned WVIAC Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 14.6 ppg and 8.9 rpg during the 2007-08 campaign. He recorded 13 doubles-doubles.

This past year, he compiled averages of 14.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 72.0 percent at the foul line. In his two seasons with the Rams, he tallied 823 points and 486 rebounds.

“Liki is a proven performer on the Division II level,” said Edwards. “He brings experience and an intensity to our front line. I expect him to contend for All-Conference honors in the Peach Belt just as he did in the WVIAC."

At Francis Marion, Turner will join previously announced newcomers 6-2 freshmen guard Evrik Gary of Camden and 5-11 junior guard Bryant Julious of Hemingway.

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

FMU signs Conway cross country runner

Francis Marion University cross country coach Mark Bluman has announced the signing of Sierra Young of Conway to a national letter of intent to attend FMU and run for the Patriot women this fall.
Young, 5-0, is a product of Conway and Loris high schools. She ran for three years at Loris before graduating from Conway this past spring.

For the Lions, she competed in both the 2006 and 2007 AA-A state meets, posting identical 25:29 times over the 5,000-meter course.

“The recruitment of Young is a testament to the program we have at FMU,” said Bluman. “As a freshman, she attended Loris High School and was a teammate of current FMU runners Kim Richardson and Holly Todd. Obviously she has noticed the success and fun that they are having at Francis Marion and she wanted to be a part of that.

“Young is a second generation runner as her father is also a distance runner. As a daughter of runner, she comes in with a great level of maturity. This maturity will contribute to her success here at FMU. I look forward to working with her. She comes to Florence well prepared to handle the demands of competing at the next level.”

Francis Marion loses only one senior from its 2008 women’s squad that placed ninth at the Peach Belt Conference Championship Meet and 20th at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Meet.

Francis Marion inks Charlotte backstop

Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the signing of catcher Taylor Patterson of Charlotte to a national letter of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in 2010.

Patterson, 6-1 195-pounds, is a product of Ardrey Kell High School, where he played for coach Hal Bagwell.

This past season, he hit .313 and was team captain as Ardrey Kell posted a 27-8 record and won the North Carolina 4A state title.

As a junior, he also batted .313 with an on-base percentage of .516. He threw out 40 percent of the base runners attempting to steal against him and led his squad with a .985 fielding percentage. He helped lead the Knights to a 28-6 record, the 4A Western Regional championship, and a spot in the 4A state championship series.

He owns Ardrey Kell’s all-time record for highest fielding percentage (.989).
“Taylor is a good defensive catch-and-throw guy,” said Inabinet. “He will have a chance to compete for playing time behind the plate as a freshman.”

Francis Marion loses four seniors off last year’s 38-15-1 squad that finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the end-of-the-season Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

He becomes the sixth newcomer to the Patriot program joining catcher Logan Bland of Charleston, infielder and right-handed pitcher Tyler Cappelmann of Sumter, right-handed pitchers Don Sandifer of Bamberg and Will Smith of Blythewood and outfielder Dalton Gress of Aiken.

FMU’s David Walters signed by Baltimore Orioles

Francis Marion University senior right-handed pitcher David Walters has signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles and has been assigned to the organization’s Gulf Coast (Rookie) League squad.

The GCL is based in Florida and consists of a 60-game season beginning on June 23 and running through Aug. 31.

The GCL Orioles will face the Reds’ GCL affiliate on June 23 to open the season.
Walters, a native of River Hill, Md., led the 2009 Patriot pitching staff with 15 starts, while posting a 7-3 record and a 5.97 earned run average. He fanned 55 batters in 72.1 innings, while walking only 23.

Only nine base runners attempted to steal while he was on the mound, and four of those were unsuccessful. Defensively, he did not commit an error in 22 fielding chances en route to earning a Rawlings Gold Glove award for the Southeast Region. He was a first-team All-Peach Belt Conference selection and earned second-team Daktronics Inc. All-Southeast Region recognition.

In 2008, Walters led the Patriot pitching staff with 16 starts, while posting a 9-4 record and a 4.66 ERA. He fanned 91 batters in 92.2 innings, while walking only 27. He compiled two complete games and opponents batted only .246 against him.

Prior to coming to FMU, Walters played two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College and posted a combined record of 15-8 with a 3.62 ERA.

He was a two-time All-County pick at River Hill High School.
Walters was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2008 MLB Draft, but chose to return to FMU for his senior season.

Francis Marion posted a 38-15-1 record in 2009 and finished second during the PBC regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

FMU signs Aiken cross country runner

Francis Marion University cross country coach Mark Bluman has announced the signing of Justin Albertson of Aiken to a national letter of intent to attend FMU and run for the Patriot men this fall.

Albertson, 5-7, is a product of South Aiken High School, where he ran under the direction of coaches Russ Busbee and Bill Griswould.

A three-time All-Region cross country runner, he placed 24th at the 2008 AAA state cross country championship meet and eighth at the 2007 AAAA state meet. South Aiken was sixth in the team standings at the 2008 meet. He owns a personal-best time for 5,000-meters of 16:35.

On the track, he scored in both the 4x400-meter relay and the 4x800-meter relay at the 2009 AAA state meet as South Aiken tied for 13th in the team standings. He also competes in the 800-meters, where he has a personal-best time of 2:02.

“I really look forward to working with Justin this fall,” said Bluman. “He will be well prepared to handle the demands of competing at the next level. In recruiting Justin, it would always come back to his passion for the sport. Coach Busbee couldn't stress enough how much this young man loves to run and loves to compete. Every successful person in life has to have a passion for their trade.

“Justin comes from a great high school program as witnessed by South Aiken’s continued success in both track and cross country. Coach Busbee not only prepares his cross country runners to succeed at the high school level, but at the college level as well. Justin will succeed here.”
Francis Marion loses three seniors from its 2008 men’s squad that placed fifth at the Peach Belt Conference Championship Meet and recorded top five showings in each of its regular-season meets last fall.

Patriots gain services of Stinger shortstop

Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of Asheboro, N.C., native and Florence-Darlington Technical College shortstop Jessica Hogan to the Patriot roster for the 2010 season.

This past spring, the 5-4 right-handed hitting infielder batted .407 with 32 runs scored, 13 doubles, and 18 runs batted in. She also stole a team-leading 23 bases, compiled a .470 on-base percentage and a .964 fielding percentage en route to earning NJCAA Region X first-team All-Conference and All-Tournament Team honors. She was also named her squad’s most valuable player after helping lead the Stingers to a 26-13 record.

Hogan played her freshman season at Peace College in Raleigh, N.C. She hit .317 with 32 runs scored, eight doubles, one home run, and 22 RBIs for a 27-17 Pacer squad.

She is a product of Southwestern Randolph High School, where she played for coach Steve Taylor.
“Coming from a junior college, Jessica will give us immediate experience at shortstop, something we just lost to graduation,” Vallee said. “She has also batted in the leadoff spot, a position we lost this past year as well, so if called upon she will be accustomed to it. She is a player who will bring consistency to the plate and in the field. We are happy she chose to stay in Florence to continue her softball and educational career.”

Hogan joins nine players who previously committed to the Patriots: infielder Tristan Faile of Lancaster, S.C., catcher-outfielder Olivia Ferguson of Roanoke, Va., catcher-first baseman Annie Hegar of Jefferson, N.C., catcher-infielder Meghan Heiser of Sacramento, Calif., right-handed pitcher Cea Knox of Myrtle Beach, right-handed pitcher Rayna McClinton of Columbia, left-handed pitcher Murphy McConnell of Milton, Ga., utility player Jamie Ross of Cape Coral, Fla., and right-handed pitcher Brittany Scoggins of Boiling Springs, S.C.

Francis Marion finished the 2009 season with a 32-19 record, and narrowly missed earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

FMU’s Josh Edgin taken by Braves in MLB Draft

Francis Marion University junior left-handed pitcher Josh Edgin was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 50th round of Major League Baseball’s 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Thursday (June 11).

Edgin was selected as the seventh pick in the 50th round (No. 1498 overall). A total of approximately 1,521 players were selected.

Edgin, a native of Three Springs, Pa., posted a 4-2 record this past season with a 4.04 earned run average. He appeared in 16 games, making 11 starts, and struck out 57 batters in 69 innings. Opponents batted .234 against him.

His two best starts may have been the final two of the season. He allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings while fanning nine in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game, leading FMU to the title and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Four days later, he tossed a two-hit shutout (5-0 FMU win) against nationally ranked Tusculum College in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Southest Regional.

Edgin has the option of signing with the Braves or returning to Francis Marion for his senior year.

Edgin is the eighth FMU player to be drafted over the past eight years, joining senior center fielder Justin Greene, selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round (No. 600), and junior right-handed pitcher David Walters, picked by the Atlanta Braves in the 47th round (No. 1412) of the 2008 draft; right-handed pitcher Dylan Owen, chosen by the New York Mets in the 20th round (No. 633 overall) of the 2007 draft; left-handed pitcher Lee Tabor, taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 30th round (No. 894 overall) of the 2006 draft; center fielder Quentin Davis, chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 2005 draft; right-handed pitcher Erin Jones, chosen in the 31st round of the 2004 draft by the New York Mets; and left-handed pitcher Hal Chafey, chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20th round of the 2002 draft.

Francis Marion posted a 38-15-1 record in 2009 and finished second during the PBC regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

SWAMP SIGHTINGS (Vol.1 for 2009)

• Former Francis Marion University women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell, who recently addressed FMU’s 2009 graduating class and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree, has been inducted into both the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame this spring. She coached at Francis Marion for 11 seasons (1975-1986) and compiled a 272-80 record and two national championships. Now the head coach at the University of North Carolina, she has recorded 540 more wins and another national championship in her 23 seasons in Chapel Hill. She is also a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.

• FMU graduate (‘86) Greg Elliott (Georgetown, SC) has been named the boys’ varsity head basketball coach at Summerville High School. Elliott coached for 13 seasons at Hilton Head High School compiling a 152-179 record, and also served as the school’s athletic director for 10 years. He previously coached at Choppee High School and as an assistant on the college level at Virginia Tech and the University of Southern Mississippi.

· FMU graduate (’91) and former baseball player Denny Beckley (Ladson, SC) was recently named the South Carolina AAA Baseball Coach of the Year and the state Coach of the Year for all divisions. He guided the Bulldogs to a 23-9 record this past spring and an appearance in the AAA state championship series. He has been at Camden High School for 10 years. Playing a variety of positions, Beckley batted .256 in 60 career games over three seasons at FMU.


· Patriot graduate (’99) and former track and field athlete Kyle Pifer (Antioch, TN) is in his second year as assistant director of compliance at the University of Washington. He previously worked in the compliance office at Oregon State University and Gonzaga University. Pifer, a mathematics major at FMU, graduated summa cum laude with a 3.951 GPA. He threw the hammer and javelin for the Patriots and was named the team's most valuable player in 1999. He was a GTE Academic All-American, the 1998-99 Peach Belt Conference Outstanding Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and twice received the Patriots Brigade Academic Award.


· Former Francis Marion men’s basketball assistant coach Bruce Martin has been named the head coach for men’s basketball and assistant athletic director at Davis & Elkins College in his home state of West Virginia. Martin served on head coach Lewis Hill’s Francis Marion staff for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. He is a graduate of Clemson University and a former Tiger player. He has also served on the coaching staffs at Clemson, the University of Wyoming, Radford University, and the University of Texas-Pan American.

Patriot Netters ranked 5th and 18th in final polls

The Francis Marion University women’s and men’s tennis teams are ranked fifth and 18th respectively in the final 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II Top 40 national polls released recently. Several Patriot players were also included in the singles and doubles rankings.

The Patriot women’s No.5 listing equals the program’s highest ranking ever – also achieved last year. This past season, Francis Marion recorded a 20-5 mark that included a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II’s round of Sweet 16.

FMU finished third during the Peach Belt Conference’s regular season, lost in the PBC Tournament title match, and then earned the program’s ninth NCAA Tournament invitation in the past 15 years – where the Patriots captured their second straight Southeast Regional title.

Over the past two seasons, Francis Marion is a combined 43-8, with seven losses to opponents ranked in the Top 5 and the other loss was to an NCAA Division I opponent.

Under the direction of 17th-year head coach Garth Thomson, the FMU women appear in the end-of-the-season national poll for the fourth straight year and for the 10th time in the past 14 seasons. Thomson has compiled a 217-149 career coaching record while directing the Patriot women.
The FMU men were 16-6 in 2009 and earned their 13th national tournament invitation in the past 15 years.

The men’s program has appeared in the final national poll each of the past 14 years, and 15 of the past 16 seasons. Thomson has amassed a 252-118 career coaching record at the helm of the Patriot men.

Individually, Patriot junior Tereza Sykorova (17-6) ranked 13th nationally among Division II women’s singles players, while sophomores Kristyna Horakova (17-4) and Jitka Gavdunova (21-1) are 25th and 28th respectively. Sykorova was ranked 10th at the conclusion of the 2008 season.
The doubles duo of Horakova and Gavdunova (20-2) ranked third nationally in Division II, while Sykorova and sophomore Sabina Baberadova (16-2) are listed at the No. 14 position.

On the men’s side, sophomore Oshada Wijemanne (15-2) is ranked ninth in Division II singles and sophomore Dilshod Sharifi (17-2) is ranked 18th. Wijemanne was ranked 36th following his freshman campaign.

The doubles pair of Wijemanne and Sharifi (16-3) is ranked seventh nationally, up from 17th at the end of the 2008 season.

FMU men’s basketball adds two Palmetto cagers

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced the signing of 6-2 guard Evrik Gary of Camden to a national letter of intent and that Hemingway native Bryant Julious will transfer from USC Salkehatchie to FMU.

Gary was a key member of Camden’s 2009 AAA state championship squad, scoring 23 points in the title game. This past season, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 steals, and 3.2 assists per game for coach Ron McKie’s 25-2 Bulldog squad. Gary connected on 45 percent of his field goal attempts and shot 86 percent at the free throw stripe.

A two-time All-Region selection, he was chosen for the North-South All-Star Game, where he won the three-point shooting competition, and was a participant in the CSRA All-Star Game. He was also named a South Carolina High School League Scholar Athlete following his senior season, and was an honor graduate.

Julious, a 5-11 190-pound guard, helped lead USC Salkehatchie to the 2009 Region X championship. He averaged 10 points, 3.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, and was named his squad’s most valuable player. He connected on 36.1 percent of his three-point field goal attempts and 79.5 percent of his free throws. In the backcourt, he also handed out nearly twice as many assists as turnovers committed.

As a freshman, he averaged 3.4 ppg.

During his prep career playing for coach Barry McFadden at Hemingway, he set the Tigers’ career scoring record with 1,699 points. He was a two-time All-State selection and was chosen to participate in the South Carolina/North Carolina All-Star Game.

“Evrik comes from a winning program and he is accustomed to ‘cutting down the nets’,” said Edwards. “He will grow with our program and has the potential to be an outstanding Peach Belt Conference guard. He is also an outstanding student who has earned numerous academic awards during his time at Camden.

“When I first came to FMU, I recruited Bryant out of Hemingway High School. He has gained experience on the junior college level and is ready to lead a Peach Belt Conference team. We not only look for Bryant to direct our attack on the court, but as an outstanding student, he can be an example for our younger players.

“I am extremely pleased we have been able to attract two highly qualified student-athletes from South Carolina to join our program.”

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.