College Preview Capsules: No. 23 Coastal Carolina

No.  23 Coastal Carolina

2015 Record (Ranking): 39-21 (NR). RPI: 20.

Coach (Record at school): Gary Gilmore (792-420, 20 years)

Postseason History: 14 regionals (active streak: 1), 0 CWS trips, 0 national titles.

With a veteran team supplemented by star underclassmen such as Tommy La Stella and Anthony Meo, Coastal Carolina set a program record in 2010 with 55 wins and advanced to super regionals, losing to in-state rival and eventual national champion South Carolina.

The Chanticleers have remained a consistent regional team since then but haven’t made it back to that level. With eight everyday players back from last year’s team, coach Gary Gilmore has reason to feel good about this season and even to draw some parallels to his greatest team.

2016 Lineup
Pos.	Name, Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI	SB
C	David Parrett, Sr.	.239	.317	.460	10	38	3
1B	Tyler Chadwick, Sr.	.303	.418	.463	5	35	3
2B	Seth Lancaster, So.	.191	.273	.265	1	11	2
3B	Zach Remillard, Sr.	.272	.346	.419	6	42	7
SS	Michael Paez, Jr.	.326	.436	.526	8	42	19
LF	Connor Owings, Sr.	.270	.399	.470	9	48	13
CF	Anthony Marks, Sr.	.343	.421	.380	0	25	17
RF	Dalton Ewing, So.	.400	.500	.400	0	1	0
DH	G.K. Young, Jr.	.301	.368	.476	9	49	0
Pos.	Name, Year	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
RHP	Alex Cunningham, R-Jr.	6	0	2.56	60	59	0
RHP	Bobby Holmes, So.	4	1	2.9	62	55	4
RHP	Jason Bilous, Fr.	HS—Wilmington, Del.
RP	Mike Morrison, Sr.	2	3	3.91	57	72	3

“The similarities between the two teams are we have an older group of guys, guys who have been with us a few years,” he said. “We don’t have (Cody) Wheeler, Meo, (Austin) Fleet, (pitchers) we had in 2010 who had long track records of success. That’s our greatest challenge.”

While Coastal’s lineup likely will be one of the oldest in the country with five seniors projected to start, its pitching staff is more inexperienced. Righthanders Alex Cunningham and Jason Bilous give the Chanticleers two power arms in the rotation, but both dealt with injuries last year. Cunningham missed the end of last season with tendinitis in his forearm, while Bilous was sidelined as a senior in high school following Tommy John surgery.

But both Bilous and Cunningham will enter the year healthy and ran their fastballs into the mid and upper 90s mph this fall. Gilmore is especially excited about Bilious’ potential.

“He’ll be a guy we bring along slowly, but he’s going to be a really good one,” Gilmore said. “I feel for sure if he can throw the baseball over the plate consistently, he’ll be a difference maker for us.”

While the pitching staff works itself out, Coastal will rely on its veteran hitters. Center fielder Anthony Marks and shortstop Michael Paez, the team’s two leading hitters a year ago, form a solid base up the middle. Paez is the team’s top prospect, combining good on-base skills with some speed and power. But while he is a key player to the Chanticleers lineup, Gilmore is looking for him to also make an impact with his glove.

“He obviously needs to be our defensive leader on the infield, being that guy in the infield that makes all the routine plays and makes tough plays look easy at times,” Gilmore said. “This team has a chance to be really good there and his leadership is of paramount importance.”

Even with such an experienced team, Gilmore sees ways the Chanticleers can improve offensively. He is excited to have outfielder Dalton Ewing healthy after he was sidelined most of his freshman season with a broken hand, and believes third baseman Zach Remillard can be a more consistent contributor.

“If we can stay healthy all year, this team will gain momentum all year long,” Gilmore said. “There’s a lot of room for growth even with a veteran team.”

If the Chanticleers are able to do that, they have a chance to be a special team, maybe even breaking through to Omaha for the first time in school history. But first, Gilmore is hopeful that after opening Springs Brooks Stadium last year, Coastal will get a chance to play at home in the postseason this year.

“We want a chance to be one of the 16 sites called in June, that’s what this team wants,” Gilmore said. “This team wants to be the team that hosts the first regional here and see what we can get done playing on our field.”