HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker College head baseball coach Luke Harrigan has announced the addition of 14 new players for the 2018-19 season. The Cobras welcome JT Crosby, Riley Fisher, Evan Pawlowski, Nick Daniel, Furman Wilson, Matt Hyatt, Anthony Peck, Chase Bruno, Cole Chestnut, Glenn Stratton, Jackson Williams, Josh Galloway, Konnor Courtney, and Will McGuire to the Coker family.
"Coach McLaughlin and Coach Rein worked really hard all summer to sure up some spots that we needed," said Harrigan. "We were looking to not only build off of our current team, but to add depth as well with this class. We have a great core right now with our current team and the addition of our new signees will help us in continuing to build for the future."
JT Crosby will join the Cobras as a 5-11, 185-pound right-handed pitcher from Wayne County High School. While with the Yellow Jackets, Crosby was tabbed as an All-State and All-Region pitcher, as well as Best Defensive and Most Versatile Player. He also played for the Scoutz USA Travel Baseball Club. The Jesup, Ga. native is the son of Shawn and Lolli Crosby and plans to major in exercise science.
Riley Fisher will join Coker as a big-bodied first baseman coming in at 6-3, 210-pounds. At Highland High School, Fisher was a three-year varsity member and selected to the 2017-18 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American Tournament Team. Fisher was also a member of the 2016 Team USA NTIS Ohio Valley and 2016-17 Prospects Games Participant top player. The Hinkley, Ohio native was also named as the 2016 PBR Ohio First-Team All-Winter first baseman, ranked the 53rd best overall player in the state of Ohio and sixth overall as a first baseman. A four-year Scholar Athlete, Fisher is the son of Ron and Julie Fisher and plans to major in business administration.
The Cobras also picked up a backstop in Evan Pawlowski. Coming to Hartsville from East Lincoln High School, Pawlowski was named to the North Carolina Schools District Seven All-Conference Team and to the Second-Team All-Lake Baseball in 2017. In his senior season, the 6-1, 205-pounder held a .405 batting average, .581 slugging percentage, with two home runs and a conference-leading 29 RBI. A native of Denver, N.C., Pawlowski owns a 4.063 cumulative GPA and is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is the son of Tim and Melissa.
Nick Daniel will be assisting the Cobras in the outfield, coming in at 6-0, 165-pounds. Out of East Coweta High School, Daniel played for the Homeplate Chilidogs Travel Baseball Club. He was named to the 16U WWBA All-Tournament team and to the 2017 Perfect Game Elite Upper-class Championship All-Tournament Team. The Senoia, Ga. native was also a member of the 2017 prospect team and ranked as a high follow for Perfect Game. While at East Coweta, Daniel is a scholar athlete and on the Honor Roll. Planning to major in Psychology, Daniel is the son of Shelly & Walt Black, and Jimmy & Ashley Daniel.
Furman Wilson has signed on to be a Cobra as well. Another outfielder, Wilson is 5-8, 175-pounds coming from Seneca High School where he played baseball and basketball for the Bobcats. Wilson was a part of the 2017 Upper-State Championship team and was invited to the Diamond Prospects Palmetto Games in 2016 & 2017. From Seneca, S.C., Wilson was ranked as the ninth best outfielder in S.C. by Diamond Prospects. Serving as Treasurer of the National Honors Society and planning to major in Biology, Wilson is the son of Peter and Pam.
Matt Hyatt joins the Cobras as a towering, 6-4, 225-pound right-handed pitcher from Scotland High School. Hyatt is a dual-sport athlete with the Fighting Scots, playing baseball and running cross country. Honored with several accolades, Hyatt was named to the J. Hoyt Warren All-Tournament Team, the North Carolina Powerade State Games and to the South Eastern Conference All-Conference team. A member of the Dirtbags Travel Baseball Club, Hyatt was tabbed as a Perfect Game All-American honorable mention and elected to the Perfect Game All-Tournament team two times. The Wagram, N.C. native plans to major in business and is the son of Darron and Crystal Hyatt.
Anthony Peck joins the baseball roster as a right-handed pitcher and corner infielder from St. James High School. Coming in with a 5-11, 170-pound build, Peck was a 2016 All-State athlete and named to the 2016 All-South Carolina Team / Rawlings National Team. A native of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Peck plans to major in exercise science and is the son of Jeremy and Nicole Peck.
Chase Bruno will be welcomed to the Cobras coming as a 5-9, 150-pound middle infielder from Ashley Ridge High School. While playing for the Swamp Foxes, Bruno held a batting average of .540 and an on base percentage of .634. Bruno was named to the High School Sports Report 5A All-State Team along with being elected to the Diamond Prospects First-Team All-5A. Additionally, the Summerville, S.C. native was awarded All-Lowcountry Honorable Mention as presented by The Post and Courier. While at Ashley Ridge, Bruno collected Academic Honors all four years. Planning to major in business, Bruno is the son of Michael and Christina.
Cole Chestnut will venture to Hartsville as a right-handed pitcher for the Cobras. Built with a 6-2, 210-pound frame, Chestnut recorded a 1.38 ERA against 226 batters faced with 75 strikeouts, and averaged 12 strikeouts per nine innings pitched in his junior year at Cheraw High School. With the Braves, Chestnut owns a 4.6 GPA and is a CATE Completer (Business), a member of the National Honors Society, NTHS, Junior Marshall, FCA and HOSA. The Cheraw, S.C. native plans to major in major in exercise science and is the son of Jason and Elizabeth.
Glenn Stratton comes to Coker from Centennial High school. In his junior year with the Eagles, Stratton recorded a 0.96 ERA in 37.0 innings pitched with 50 strikeouts. At the plate, he held a .333 batting average and 16 stolen bases. Stratton was named to the 2016-17 All-Howard County Team and 2017 MSABC Futures South Region Team, while he was tabbed as the MVP for Centennial baseball. Stratton is a member of the Horizon Club, English Kids2Kids and Bridging Cultures Club, Athletes in Action, and the National Spanish Honor Society. An Ellicott City, Md. native, Stratton plans to major in computer science and is the son of Glenn and Masami.
Jackson Williams joins the Cobras out of Olympic High School in Tega, Cay, S.C. as a 6-3, 205-pound outfielder and first baseman. Jackson plays with the Charlotte Megastars in the summer. Williams plans to major in sports management and is the son of Michael and Carol.
Josh Galloway comes to Coker as a 6-0, 185-pound middle infielder out of Thomas Sumter High School. In his junior year with the Generals, Galloway held a .459 batting average with a home run and 15 stolen bases. He was named the MVP of his team and was selected to the SCISA North-South All-Star Game in 2016 & 2017. Galloway also earned All-Region honors and was named to the SCISA All-State team in 2017. At Thomas Sumter, the Lugoff, S.C. native is a part of the National Honors Society, Honor Roll, and the Debate Club. Josh is the son of Matt and Tarsha.
Konnor Courtney joins the Cobras and will be an addition to the bullpen as a left-handed pitcher coming from Keswick Christian School. With the Crusaders, Courtney is a member of the baseball, golf, and wrestling teams. The 5-7, 150-pound pitcher was a member of the Clearwater Thunder Travel Baseball Club where he threw a no hitter. A native of Pinellas Park, Fla., Courtney plans to major in biology and is the son of Keven and Kristen Courtney.
Will McGuire comes to the Cobras as a 6-0, 180-pound middle infielder from Stratford High School. McGuire played both baseball and football for the Knights and played for Goose Creek Legion Post 166. A native of Goose Creek, S.C., McGuire is the son of Eric and Shannon.
The Coker College baseball team will open their 2018 campaign on Feb. 3 with a doubleheader against Chowan on Tom J. Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium.