Tusculum’s O’Connell, Hanger Named to NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team

LAKELAND, Fla. --- Tusculum College's Guy O'Connell and George Hanger have been named to the 2003 NCAA Division II South Regional All-Tournament Baseball Team announced officials Sunday. O'Connell and Hanger led the Pioneers to a third place finish in TC's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

O'Connell, the 2003 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, capped off a fine campaign going 7-for-14 in three games in Florida including a 4-for-4 performance against No. 2 Florida Southern College. The junior third baseman from Perth, Australia finished the year hitting .403 while establishing school single-season records including hits (83), home runs (21), RBI (67), total bases (175), slugging percentage (.850) and on-base percentage (.488). His home run tally is also currently tied for the most round-trippers in the nation (NCAA II).

Hanger, a sophomore designated hitter from Staunton, Va., had one the most productive weeks in Lakeland batting .583 with five RBI. The two-time All-Conference standout recorded three hits each against Florida Southern and Presbyterian College. He also went 1-for-3 and scored a run against eventual region champion University of Tampa (No. 7 in NCAA II). Hanger finished the year hitting .345 with four doubles and five home runs. He also set a new TC record with seven sacrifice flies and was one of the most patient players in the nation at the plate striking out only 11 times in his 197 appearances at the dish.

Tusculum has completed one of the finest seasons in school history going 34-21, tying a school record for most wins in a campaign. TC established several school records including a team batting average of .342, which is also a new South Atlantic Conference mark.

2003 NCAA II South Region All-Tournament Team
C - Everett Jones, Florida Southern
1B - Matt Armstrong, Tampa
2B - Kip McAlister, Presbyterian
SS - Kyle Kelley, Florida Southern
3B - Guy O'Connell, Tusculum
OF - Wally Quigg, Tampa
OF - Matt Joyce, Florida Southern
OF - Marshall Taylor, Tampa
DH - George Hanger, Tusculum
P - Casey McKenzie, Tampa
P - Eric Beattie, Tampa
Co-MVPs - Marshall Taylor and Eric Beattie, Tampa