Twenty Five Top College Baseball Teams 2024 – Coastal Carolina
We begin with my 25th ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers out of Conway South Carolina.
Head Coach Gary Gilmore was named the Sun Belt Coach of the year in 2023 as his Chanticleers finished 23-7 in conference play and 42-21 overall. They will return 17 from that squad to their 2024 roster. A few top performers include: Caden Bodine, Derek Bender, Zack Beach, Graham Brown,
Others returning include Blake Barthol, Ty Dooley, Darin Horne, Riley Eikhoff, Matthew Potok, Will Smith, Matt Joyce, Bryce Shaffer, and Jacob Morrison. Some bios are listed below.
Derek Bender – he is a 6’1” 210 lbs catcher/infielder that bats and throws right handed. Hit .250 with two home runs, seven RBIs, and three runs scored as a freshman. In 2023 he was named a 2023 Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist and also Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (May 15, 2023).
Zach Beach is a 6’4” first baseman and Graduate Student that bats left-handed. He saw action in 44 games on the season, making 22 starts predominately at first base and hit .247 with three home runs, three doubles, 13 RBIs, and 18 runs scored on the season along with posting a .403 slugging percentage and .392 on-base percentage on the year.
Graham Brown is a 6’0” 195 lb. outfielder and was Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (April 10, 2023)along with a Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week (April 11, 2023) and as a junior he was Named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week (May 10) and
Played in 55 games on the season, making 46 starts playing predominantly in right field
Hit .302 with seven home runs, 15 doubles, 43 RBIs, and 37 runs scored
Was third on the team in hitting, posting a .302 batting average on the season
Was fourth on the team with a .528 slugging percentage on the year
Was tied for second on the team with 15 doubles overall
Was fourth on the team with 43 RBIs on the season
Darin Horn is a 6 ‘4” 180 lbs junior and right handed pitcher for the Chanticleers. He was 3-2 last season with 85 strikeouts in just over 64 innings.
Another 6’4” right-hander is junior Matthew Potok. Named the No. 7 Sun Belt Conference prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft by D1Baseball and tabbed the No. 10 Sun Belt Conference prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft by Perfect Game also earned a spot on the Dean’s List (3.5 GPA or better) for the 2022 fall semester.
Redshirt junior is 5’11” right handed hurler Riley Eikhoff. As a freshman, he pitched in 20 games on the season, the second-most among the pitching staff and made three starts on the year. Went 4-0 with one save and a 7.12 ERA on the season. Eikhoff fanned 22 batters with eight walks in 30.1 innings of work.
Caden Bodine is a 5”10” switch hitting sophomore catcher. He was named to the 2023 Buster Posey Award Watch List.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers open up on February 16-18, 2024 at home with George Mason. The Saturday game is with Big Ten opponent Indiana and Sunday they take on Duke at Springs Brooks Stadium.
