Complete Delta State GSC Tournament Notes Package (PDF)

THIS WEEK IN STATESMEN BASEBALL
CLEVELAND - The No. 15/No.2/No. 13 ranked Statesmen (36-14, 18-3 GSCW) of Delta State University will be making their 26th appearance at the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament Saturday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 6, at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn.

The defending GSC champions took 2-of-3 from then-No. 1 ranked Southern Arkansas last weekend, clinching a share of their 15th GSC West title in 16 seasons.

Delta State will be looking to extend several GSC records when it opens GSC Tournament play Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. versus (E4) West Florida. DSU's 26 appearances, 59 wins, and 11 titles are all conference records.

GSC TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Appearances: 26
GSC Tournament Record: 59-33
Kinnison's GSC Tournament Record: 31-19
GSC Championships: 11
Last Championship: 2008 (5-1), defeated Montevallo, 7-5

STATESMAN TO WATCH - KELLEN BOZEMAN (DH)
This week's Statesman to watch is junior designated hitter/first baseman Kellen Bozeman. The hard-hitting Baton Rouge, La., native ranks second on the team with a .354 average, while connecting on 17 doubles, 11 home runs, and 57 RBIs. Against GSC opponents, Bozeman is batting .346 with four home runs, and 25 RBIs.

STATESMEN SPORTS NETWORK
The Statesmen Sports Network will offer complete coverage of all GSC Tournament games this week from USA Stadium online at www.GoStatesmen.com and on the network beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch with the SouthGroup Insurance Dugout Report. Matt Jones and Jim Ervin will have the call. This week's action may be heard on WMJW 107.5 FM and SuperSport 930 AM in Jackson.

DSU MAKING 25th GSC TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
The Statesmen are making their GSC-record 26th appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament this week at USA Stadium in Millington,Tenn. DSU's 26 Tournament appearances, are just tip the iceberg. The Statesmen also boast GSC Tournament records for wins (59), semifinals appearances (23), finals appearances (14), and championships (11). No other school has more than five titles.

Delta State's GSC Championship Teams
1978: 43-19 (14-4)
1979: 32-20 (12-6)
1985: 38-20 (7-5)
1988: 44-13 (13-1)
1991: 33-12 (11-2)
1994: 45-13 (19-4)
1996: 53-8 (15-1)
2000: 48-12 (13-3)
2003: 52-10 (28-4)
2004: 54-11 (19-3)
2008: 48-11 (17-1)

DELTA STATE VERSUS THE FIELD
Delta State will be quite familiar with the competition at this week's GSC Tournament in Millington, TN. In fact, the Statesmen have faced all but one of the teams at the event. In those games, DSU is 8-6.

GSC Field                                 2009 RECORD         Overall
West Alabama(E1)                 0-1                             74-33
Alabama-Huntsville(E2)        0-1                             24-12
Valdosta State(E3)                 0-0                             9-9
West Florida(E4)                    1-2                             16-14
Southern Arkansas(W2)       2-1                             52-21
Harding(W3)                           2-1                              27-4
Ouachita Baptist(W4)            3-0                              36-9

DSU CLINCHES 21st GSC WEST DIVISION TITLE
The Statesmen clinched a share of their record 21st GSC West Division title on Sunday with an 11-9 victory over Southern Arkansas. The two schools are considered Co-Champions, as both finished the regular season with an identical 18-3 conference record. It's the 15th division crown in the last 16 seasons for the Delta State baseball program. Sunday also marked the 10th time Southern Arkansas has finished second to the Statesmen in the GSC West standings. 

MILLINGTON ON THE MIND
DSU has enjoyed a great deal of success at USA Stadium since the GSC Tournament moved there in 2002. The Statesmen claimed the 2003, 2004 and 2008 Gulf South Conference titles and owns an all-time mark of 18-10 at USA Stadium.

STATESMEN RANK NO.1 ALL-TIME IN WINS IN GSC
Delta State University Baseball holds the distinction of owning the most conference titles (11) in Gulf South Conference history. DSU also holds the honor of being the all-time winningest program in league history with 1,665 victories. Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,665-830-10. The University of North Alabama is the only other school to top the 1,000 win plateau. The University of West Alabama is knocking on the door.

STATESMEN PLACE SEVEN ON ALL-GSC TEAMS
The No. 15 ranked Statesmen placed seven players on the 2009 All-Gulf South Conference First or Second Teams, as released by the GSC office on Thursday. Led by unanimous selection Kellen Bozeman (DH), the Statesmen placed six players on the First Team, including: Clay Sartain (2B), Devin Goodwin (SS), Cade Hoggard (OF), Michael Niemann (OF), and Levi Bishop (RP). Korey Cunningham (SP) was named to the Second Team.

SARTAIN AND GOODWIN FERRISS TROPHY CANDIDATES
Clay Sartain, a 5-9 senior second baseman from Horn Lake, is one of two leading candidates for the 2009 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy, which is awarded annually to the state of Mississippi's top collegiate baseball player. Sartain is the GSC's all-time leader in doubles (68). While maintaining a .346 batting average that includes just seven strikeouts in 191 plate appearances, Sartain currently ranks fourth in the conference with 18 doubles, as well as in runs scored (60). His 59 runs batted in also puts him in the ninth spot in the GSC. 

Not to be outdone, Devin Goodwin, a 5-10 senior shortstop from Demopolis, Ala., continues to have his best all around season. While batting .344 on the season with only 11 strikeouts in 186 plate appearances, Goodwin ranks third in the GSC with 65 runs scored, second in walks (39) and first in runs scored per game (1.31).

HOGGARD CONTINUES TORRID PACE
Cade Hoggard has been a man a fire of late. In the last 17 games, Hoggard is batting .383 with four HR, and 18 RBIs. The 6-foot-3 right fielder is batting .329 with a team-high 12 HR. He also has 53 RBIs, and 44 runs scored. 

BISHOP SETS NEW SAVES RECORD AT DELTA STATE
Senior lefthander Levi Bishop (5-8 • 2L • Saltillo) set a new Delta State career record for saves with his 14th in DSU's 7-6 win over Arkansas Tech at Wonder Boys Field. The crafty lefthander totaled nine saves in 2008, while posting five so far this season. In 42 career appearances, Bishop is 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 14 saves. In 2009, the Itawamba CC transfer is 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA and five saves.

SARTAIN TOPS GSC DOUBLES RECORD
Senior second baseman Clay Sartain added yet another doubles record to his resume versus William Carey, eclipsing the Gulf South Conference career doubles record with a shot to right-center in DSU's 16-6 win. The double was the 65th of his career, topping the previous record of 64 held by Stephen Jackson of West Florida (1995-98). The powerful second baseman climbed to the top of the DSU career doubles list with his shot to left-center on March 22, 2009 versus Christian Brothers in an 18-4 DSU win. It was his 61st career double, topping the mark held by former Statesman Jud Thigpen, who hit 60 from 2002-2004. Heading into this weekend's contest at Arkansas Tech, the Horn Lake native has 68 doubles.

SURVIVE THE THIRD…
Much like last season, in 2009 DSU has managed to make an impact on opposing pitchers during the third inning. In fact, the Statesmen have outscored the opposition 80-32 in the third, while barely surviving the ninth with an 18-13 advantage. 
 
GORDON PRODUCING AT RECORD PACE
Junior Josh Gordon (6-2 • Vicksburg) has not looked back since taking over as the every day third baseman 27 games ago. The Vicksburg native has improved each week, and in the last 17 games has been on fire at the plate, hitting .362 (21-of-58). During that time span, Gordon has connected on five home runs, driven in 20, and scored 16 runs. He has also achored the hot-corner, committing just two errors. For the season, Gordon is batting .347 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 35 RBIs.

BOZEMAN LEADING WAY FOR STATESMEN OFFENSE
Junior designated hitter Kellen Bozeman's bat has been a major catalyst for the Statesmen this year. The LSU-Eunice transfer and Baton Rouge, La., native ranks second on the Statesmen with a .354 batting average, 11 home runs (tied) and 57 RBIs. He also ranks second with 17 doubles. His 58 runs scored are third.

GOODWIN PACING THE STATESMEN ATOP THE LINEUP
Since moving to the leadoff spot in the Statesmen lineup, senior shortstop Devin Goodwin has been nearly unstoppable at the plate. In his 37 games at the leadoff spot, the Russellville, Ala., native is batting .358 with 14 doubles, two triples, nine HR, and 41 RBIs. The two-time All-GSC selection is an early candidate for GSC West Division Player of the Year. Through 50 games, Goodwin is batting .344 with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, and 47 RBIs.

STATESMEN IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
As the official start of the Major League Baseball season draws near, DSU boasts several former Statesmen in the professional ranks. DSU currently has Edwin Maysonet (2001-2002) of the Houston Astros, and Brent Leach (2005) of the L.A. Dodgers on 40-man rosters. Maysonet has been assigned to AAA Round Rock with the Astros, after batting .313 with two HR and eight RBIs this spring. In all, eight former Statesmen are building a career in the professional game this spring and summer, including: Eli Whiteside (C, Oakland A's-AAA), Edwin Maysonet (INF, Houston Astros), Jud Thigpen (OF, Ind.), Brent Leach (P, L.A. Dodgers-AAA), Brett Durand (P, Florida Marlins-A), Jareck West (OF, Oakland A's-A), Taylor Fleming (RP, San Angelo Colts-Ind.), and Kenney Smalley (P, Oakland A's-A).