HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College's Zach Loraine has been named to the 2013 Daktronics Baseball All-Southeast Region team. Loraine was a first-team selection as a utility player and pitcher.
"This is an unbelievable honor," said Loraine. "To be named first team with these other great players is truly humbling. I can't thank my coaches and teammates enough for giving me the opportunities I've had and having faith in me this season."
Loraine, a junior, is a right-handed pitcher who serves as the Cobras' closer and designated hitter. As of Thursday, Loraine has a .329 average with three home runs, three triples, 13 doubles, 36 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 19 steals. On the mound he has a 2.63 ERA with 14 saves and 56 strikeouts over 54 2-3 innings. He is second in Division II in saves.
This is the fourth recognition for Loraine this season. In addition to the Daktronics all-region selection, he was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Southeast pitcher of the week, Conference Carolinas pitcher of the week and conference tournament MVP.
Loraine hails from Lake St. Louis, Mo., and is a physical education and sport studies major with a concentration in exercise science at Coker. He is the son of Lance and Eva Loraine.
The Coker baseball team (35-14) defeated Armstrong Atlantic State University, 11-6, in the opening game of the NCAA Southeast regional tournament on Thursday. It was the program's first victory in an NCAA tournament. The Cobras take on USC Aiken at 7 p.m. tonight from Mount Olive's Scarborough Field.
The entire Daktronics All-Southeast Region teams are as follows:
First team
First base: Chris Dula, Catawaba. Second base: Ryan Metzler, USC Aiken. Third base: Jordan Edgerton, UNC Pembroke. Shortstop: Mike Mercurio, Mount Olive. Catcher: Jeff May, Lander. Outfielders: Bryce Baur, USC Aiken; Patrick Grady, Lander; Ryan Lewis, Columbus State. Designated hitter: Bill Gerstenslager, USC Aiken. Utility/non-pitcher: Cameron Scott, Columbus State. Utility/pitcher: Zach Loraine, Coker. Starting pitchers: Ethan Carter, UNC Pembroke; Nick Lomascolo, Catawba; Alex Regan, Mount Olive; Dylan Wolchick, Lander. Relief pitcher: Taylor Grover, USC Aiken.
Pitcher of the year: Ethan Carter, UNC Pembroke
Player of the year: Chris Dula, Catawba
Second team
First base: Ty Barkell, USC Aiken. Second base: Julio Zubillaga, Catawba. Third base: Jermaine Berry, Mount Olive. Shortstop: Daniel Bick, Georgia College. Catcher: Geno Escalante, Mount Olive. Outfielders: J. D. Pullen, Columbus State; Thomas Spitz, Wingate; Adam Taylor, North Greenville. Designated hitter: Bradon Reitano, Mount Olive. Utility/non-pitcher: Josh Miller, USC Aiken. Utility/pitcher: Martin Castro, Columbus State. Starting pitchers: Derek Beasley, USC Aiken; Dale Innes, UNC Pembroke; Olen Little, Wingate; Taylor Rakes, Tusculum. Relief pitcher: John-Austin Shepard, Tusculum.
For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations and marketing, at 843-383-8018 or cdougherty@coker.edu.
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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.