Cobras Baseball Season Preview

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University baseball team looks to take the next step as a program as they return to the diamond in 2022. Third-year head coach Bob McLaughlin leads a squad that has a solid mix of veteran leaders and new faces looking to contribute immediately. 

When asked about his goals for the season, McLaughlin said: "The goal for us is to continue building off of last season and some of the success we had, especially in the second half of the season."

McLaughlin will look to incorporate the talents of his returners, along with a large freshman class and two transfers. "We have a good core group of returners both on offense and the pitching staff. We expect them to improve from last year and help out some of the younger and newer pieces in the lineup and on the mound." 

"I'm happy about how our newcomers came in and were ready to compete right away," said McLaughlin. "There will be newcomers who will have significant roles this season and we are excited to see how they progress."  

The Cobras feature three South Atlantic Conference Preseason All-Conference Second Team selections in senior infielder Phill Griffor, sophomore first baseman Kody Hanna, and senior outfielder Reilly Hall. All three are expected to feature prominently in the starting lineup throughout the season. Senior Tanner Wofford, junior Chris Watkins, and junior Brendan Mullins all have significant experience and will be relied upon in a variety of different roles on the mound. 

"We had a really good fall where newcomers and returners meshed well together," said McLaughlin. "I think this is one of the closest groups we have had at Coker in my time here. It's great having our older leaders helping mold our newcomers into leaders and making sure everyone is following the same standards from top to bottom."

The Cobras kick off the season with a midweek trip to Barton (Feb. 1) followed by a weekend series at #2 nationally ranked Wingate (Feb. 4-6). Coker's season opener will be against Shepherd for a weekend set (Feb. 11-12) before a midweek home game against UNC Pembroke (Feb. 16). The Cobras wrap up February with a trip to Mount Olive (Feb. 18-19), before hosting Catawba (Feb. 22) and opening SAC conference play against UVA-Wise (Feb. 25-26).

Coker then opens March at Erskine (Mar. 1) and at home against Augusta (Mar. 2), before traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne (Mar. 4-5). The Cobras host Belmont-Abbey (Mar. 8) and Limestone (Mar. 9), then make the short trip to Florence to take on Francis Marion (Mar. 11-13). The middle of the month will see the Cobras on the road at USC-Aiken (Mar. 15), at Carson-Newman (Mar. 18-19), and at Belmont-Abbey (Mar. 23). Coker then returns to Hartsville for a weekend set against Tusculum (Mar. 25-26) before ending the month at UNC Pembroke (Mar. 30).

April sees the Cobras hosting SAC foe Queens (N.C.) (Apr. 1-2) before midweek games at Limestone (Apr. 5) and home against Erskine (Apr. 6). They then travel to Anderson (S.C.) (Apr. 8-9) and host Barton (Apr. 12) before making the final road trip of the year to Lincoln Memorial (Apr. 15-16). The regular season wraps up in Hartsville against Newberry (Apr. 22-23).

"Every weekend in the SAC is a battle and we know that any weekend any team is good enough to beat you if you don't show up and play your best baseball," said McLaughlin. "We look forward to taking it game by game and seeing where we end up after 50 games."

The Cobras open the season on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at Barton College, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.. Video and live stats can be found at www.cokercobras.com.