4 Days until First Pitch - #10 Michel Goehrig

It's only 4 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#10 Michel Goehrig

POSITION Catcher
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 220
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Suwanee, Ga.
HIGH SCHOOL North Gwinnett HS




2019 (Freshman): Played in 27 games with 20 starts all coming behind the plate at catcher … Collected 10 base hits including three doubles, batting .208 on the season with eight runs driven in … Saw his first action as a defensive sub in the third game against Oakland (Feb. 16), drawing an eighth-inning walk and scoring his first career run … Tallied his first collegiate hit on a single up the middle in the road win at UNC Asheville (March 6) … Made his first career start in a neutral field win over Ohio State (March 10) at Fluor Field … Recorded his first career extra-base hit on a second-inning double against Gardner-Webb (March 20) … Posted a career-high two hits and three RBI in a 2-for-4 showing in a start at UNCG (March 30), adding a pair of walks … Drove in two for his second multiple-RBI game against VMI (April 27), adding a walk and a stolen base ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was the primary catcher for a North Gwinnett baseball team that went 60-12 over his final two seasons as a prep including a 36-4 overall mark as a junior and 24-8 as a senior ... Was named to the 2017 Sunshine Southeast Showcase Top Prospect Team.

Personal: Is the son of Erin and Mike Goehrig ... Has two siblings - Ashley and Zach ... Was born in Williamsport, Pa.



Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations


                                                

If it ended today........ (2-9-20)

The SoCon Basketball Tournament 

If it ended today........

After Saturday's game...... February 9, 2020


First-round // Friday, March 6 // Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville // Asheville, N.C.
Game 1  #8 seed: Samford vs. #9 seed: VMI  5 p.m.
Game 2  #7 seed: Mercer  vs. #10 seed: The Citadel  7:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals // Saturday, March 7 // Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville // Asheville, N.C.
Game 3  #1 seed: Furman  vs. Game 1 winner  12 p.m.
Game 4  #4 seed: Wofford  vs. #5 seed: Western Carolina  2:30 p.m.
Game 5  #2 seed: ETSU  vs. Game 2 winner  6 p.m.
Game 6  #3 seed: UNCG vs. #6 seed: Chattanooga  8:30 p.m.

4 Days until First Pitch - #14 Dylan Wheeler

It's only 4 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#14 Dylan Wheeler

POSITION Left-Handed Pitcher
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 220
CLASS Freshman
HOMETOWN Garner, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Garner HS

5 Days until First Pitch - #15 Zebby Matthews

It's only 5 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#15 Zebby Matthews 

POSITION Right-Handed Pitcher
HEIGHT 6-5
WEIGHT 200
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Cullowhee, N.C.
PRIOR COLLEGE  Walters State CC
HIGH SCHOOL Smoky Mountain HS




Prior to Western Carolina:  Played one season at Walters State:
Walters State baseball team went to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado in 2019.

Matthews record at WSCC:
APP 19  -  GS 10  -  W 8 -  L 2  -  SV 1 -  IP 61.1  -  ERA 2.79  -  K 54

                                                 
                                                           

Justice Bigbie - preseason All-American

Courtesy WCU Media Relations         

6 Days until First Pitch - #31 Davis Tyndall

It's only 6 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

 #31 Davis Tyndall

POSITION Right-Handed Pitcher
HEIGHT 6-1
WEIGHT 185
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Morehead City, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL West Carteret HS




2019 (Freshman): Pitched in nine games with eight relief appearances and one start … Finished with just 9.1 innings of work with an ERA of 22.18 over the small sample size … Recorded 10 strikeouts as a freshman against 22 walks and five hit batters … Made his collegiate debut with an inning out of the bullpen in the season-opening victory over Oakland (Feb. 15) … Tossed a career-long 3.2 innings against Wofford (April 5), striking out a career-high four … Struck out two in the two-thirds of an inning he recorded against both VMI (April 26) and at Samford (May 10) ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a three-year varsity standout, pitching and playing outfield ... As a junior, ranked inside the top 30 in five statistical categories in North Carolina's 3-A division including sixth in both batting average (.493) and stolen bases (23), 11th in runs scored (30), 14th in on-base percentage (.548) and 27th in slugging percentage (.626) ... Finished with eight doubles and 21 RBI as a junior... In limited playing time as a sophomore, hit .353 in 11 games with seven runs and three RBI ... Played in the Powerade North Carolina State Games ... Also played for the Dirtbags youth baseball.

Personal: Full name is Davis McRae Tyndall ... Is the son of Gilian and Robert Tyndall ... Is the middle of three siblings - Michael and Courtney.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations


                                                

If it ended today........ (2-5-20)

The SoCon Basketball Tournament 

If it ended today........

After Wednesday's game...... 2-5-2020

First round // Friday, March 6 // Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville // Asheville, N.C.
Game 1  #8 seed: Samford vs. #9 seed: VMI  5 p.m.
Game 2  #7 seed : Chattanooga vs. #10 seed: The Citadel  7:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals // Saturday, March 7 // Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville // Asheville, N.C.
Game 3  #1 seed: Furman vs. Game 1 winner  12 p.m.
Game 4  #4 seed: UNCG vs. #5 seed: Western Carolina  2:30 p.m.
Game 5  #2 seed: ETSU vs. Game 2 winner  6 p.m.
Game 6  #3 seed: Wofford vs. #6 seed: Mercer  8:30 p.m.

Game #23 - Furman

The Furman Paladins travel up the mountain to face the Cats in the second game of the yearly series looking to pick up a sweep, but the Cats are looking to protect the home court and not let the Paladins have the tie breaker against the Cats.



When: Saturday, February, 8 
Time: 2:00 pm
Where: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, NC   
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-Radio Announcer: Gary Ayers
TV/video: ESPN+
-TV Announcer: Daniel Hooker
Live Stats: WCU Live Stats
Message Board: Go Paladins

The Series: The series between Western and the Paladins started back in 1977 and the Cats trail 29-47 overall against Furman, but Western is 20-14 in games between the two teams played in Cullowhee.  The Cats are on an eight game slide to the Paladins, last winning in Cullowhee in 2016, by a score of 73-62.

Furman's 2019-20 record: 19-5 overall, 7-4 away games, 9-2 SoCon

Furman was tabbed to finish third in preseason polling of the SoCon’s coaches and media but currently sits in a first place tie with ETSU, both sporting a 9-2 conference record.  The Paladins currently sit in 7th place in this week's mid-major top 25 poll.

The Paladins come to Cullowhee riding a 4 game in streak, looking for the season sweep over the Cats, having beat the Cats on Jan 15th in Greenville, by a final score of 83-79. The Paladins,  outscored Western 15-2 on points off of turnovers and committed just seven miscues in the game, including two turnovers in the second half. Furman shot 45.9% from the field, converted on 19-of-25 trips to the charity stripe and fashioned a 36-32 scoring advantage in the paint.

The Paladins rank 2nd, behind the Cats in scoring offense posting 77.8 points per game (ppg), and 3rd in defensive scoring, giving up only 66 ppg. The money maker for the Cats can be the 3-point shot, as the Cats rank first in the SoCon in 3-point percentage, and the Paladins are in 6th place in that category.



Furman Probable Starters
Senior/Guard - Jordan Lyons, 5'11" 190
Junior/Guard - Alex Hunter, 5'11" 185
Junior/Forward - Clay Mounce, 6'7" 205
Soph/Forward - Noah Gurley, 6'8" 210
Soph/Forward - Jalen Slawson, 6'7" 210



                                                         

7 Days until First Pitch - #35 Eric Wallington

It's only 7 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#35 Eric Wallington

POSITION Left-Handed Pitcher
HEIGHT 6-6
WEIGHT 215
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Asheville, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL T.C. Roberson HS




2019 (Freshman): Made seven appearances including six out of the bullpen and one start … Tossed a combined five innings on the year with an ERA of 23.40 over a small sample size … Struck out five against 19 walks and two hit batters … Made his collegiate debut at the Keith LeClair Classic against Utah (March 2) … Earned his first career start against Gardner-Webb (March 20) … Tossed a career-long 2.0 innings against VMI (April 27), striking out a career-high four ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played for former WCU assistant coach, Eric Filipek, at T.C. Roberson HS, where he was a part of the state 4-A championship, 31-3 team as a junior ... Two-time WMAC All-Conference selection as a junior and senior ... Tabbed second-team All-WNC by the Citizen-Times as a senior ... Selected to the Collegiate Baseball 2018 High School All-America second team ... Earned Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades as a junior featuring a perfect 11-0 record and a gleaming 0.76 ERA ... He struck out 61 batters in 55.1 innings of work ... Named to the NCBCA 4-A All-State team and to the Citizen-Times All-WNC team ... Played showcase baseball in the summer for the Southern Athletics.

Personal: Full name is Eric Michael Wallington ... Is the son of Danette West and Michael Wallington ... Has one sibling, Taylor.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations


                                                

WCU Player of the Game (Samford)

Purple & Gold's Player of the Game for the Chattanooga game is..........

Carlos Dotson

                                                                       

Senior forward Carlos Dotson completed his sixth straight double-double and thirteenth of the season against the the Bulldogs in the Hanna Center. Dotson scored 20 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. He was 8 of 14 in field goals and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line. Carlos also had 2 steals and one assist in the game.

Honorable mention in the Chattanooga game goes to Onno Steger with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists and  Mason Faulkner with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Thanks to all the entire Catamount team for giving us another game to remember

Purple & Gold congratulates Carlos Dotson on his accomplishments in the  Samford game.



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8 Days until First Pitch - #21 Zach Franklin

It's only 8 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#21 Zach Franklin 

POSITION  Right-Handed Pitcher
HEIGHT  6-2
WEIGHT  180
CLASS  Redshirt Sophomore
HOMETOWN  Marion, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL  McDowell HS





2019 (Sophomore): Made seven appearances, six in relief with one start all before being sidelined with a throwing arm injury … Is expected to apply for a medical redshirt … Posted a 2-1 record with a 4.00 ERA prior to injury, striking out 32 against 15 walks with four hit batters … Struck out a season-high six three times including against Oakland (Feb. 16), Elon (March 15), and at ETSU (March 22) … Recorded 36 ground ball outs and 30 fly ball outs … Limited Oakland to one hit over 5.1 innings with six strikeouts in recording his first win of the year … Matched a career-long with seven relief innings in scoring a home win over Elon (March 15) ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2018 (Freshman): Made 23 appearances including 20 out of the bullpen with three starts … Finished with a 1-4 overall record with a 3.23 ERA and three saves … Pitched a combined 47.1 innings … Recorded 50 strikeouts against 24 walks, surrendering 49 hits with just 12 going for extra bases – eight doubles and four home runs … Limited the opposition to a .254 batting average against … Made his collegiate debut in a weekend start at East Carolina (Feb. 18) … Struck out a career-high seven in his second career start against Canisius (Feb. 24) … Earned his first career save in striking out two in an inning of relief out of the bullpen in the victory over The Citadel (March 24) … Collected his second career save in tossing 2.1 innings in game one of a doubleheader against Samford (May 12) … Saved WCU’s first win in the 2018 Southern Conference tournament, tossing a perfect ninth against The Citadel (May 22) that started WCU’s postseason run … Tossed a career-long 7.0 innings in just his third career start in the SoCon Tournament with the Catamounts facing elimination against ETSU (May 25), matching his career-high with seven strikeouts in securing his first collegiate victory … Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: A Western North Carolina product that was the Mountain Athletic Conference (MAC) 4A/3A Pitcher of the Year as a junior ... Posted a 4-4 record with two saves, tossing a no-hitter in a tough-luck loss to A.C. Reynolds ... Finished his junior year with a 1.53 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 59.1 innings while limiting opponents to a .170 batting average ... Earned a spot on the District 8 PowerAde State Games team.

Personal: Full name is Zach Aaron Franklin ... Is the son of Holly and Jody Franklin ... Has an older sister.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Dotson named to Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship Midseason Watch List

ATLANTA -- Western Carolina's Carlos Dotson is one of 10 Southern Conference seniors on the Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship Midseason Watch List, which was released today.

The 2020 event is scheduled for April 3-5 at Atlanta's Atlantic Station, where it will be contested outdoors for the first time.

The single largest gathering of draft-eligible talent leading up to the NBA Draft, the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship will feature 128 seniors from all 32 Division I conferences vying for one of the biggest purses at any FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 event. Teams will compete for $150,000, with $100,000 going to the tournament champions. The winning team will once again earn an automatic berth to the 2020 USA Basketball 3x3 Open National Championship in May.

Dotson is joined on the watch list by nine other SoCon seniors:  Brandon Austin, (Samford); Djordje Dimitrijevic, (Mercer); James Dickey, (UNCG); Nathan Hoover, (Wofford); Jordan Lyons, (Furman); Jeromy Rodriguez, (ETSU); Matt Ryan, (UTC); Josh Sharkey, (Samford); and Ethan Stair, (Mercer).

The 2020 Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship will be available to a national audience beginning with pool play games on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, and knockout rounds on Sunday, April 5. Twitter will be the exclusive home of pool play games, as well as the Round of 16 and quarterfinal games. ESPN2 will carry the semifinal, consolation and championship contests. 

Each team roster will be comprised of four eligible seniors from the same Division I conference. Teams will be organized into eight pools of four and each team will be guaranteed three pool play games, earning $1,000 for every victory on Friday and Saturday. The top two teams in each pool will move on to Sunday's knockout stage, where the stakes skyrocket. Only the teams competing in the tournament final will earn additional prize money, with the champions winning $100,000. 

"The Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship is unlike any basketball environment around. These elite athletes are entering the prime of their basketball careers, and the fast-paced, physical nature of 3x3 makes this a truly unique experience for players and fans alike," said Drew Russell, executive vice president at Intersport, which owns and operates the event. 

Last year, the team from the Colonial Athletic Association went a perfect 7-0 during the tournament and took home the $100,000 grand prize. Brantley and Wright-Foreman were drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft, and are currently part of the Utah Jazz organization. Cacok recently signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

For more information on the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship, including event updates, details, rules and more, follow on Twitter at @3X3UHoops or online at www.3X3UHoops.com.

9 Days until First Pitch - #4 Angle Torres

It's only 9 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#4 Angle Torres 

POSITION Infield
HEIGHT 6-0
WEIGHT 200
CLASS Junior
HOMETOWN El Paso, Texas
PRIOR COLLEGE  Odessa College
HIGH SCHOOL Riverside HS






Prior to Western Carolina:  Odessa College

SoCon MBB Power Rankings (2-3-20)

This is the eighth power ranking of the season, after 13 weeks of SoCon basketball.  The top and bottom look stable in the ranking, just a little change in the middle, this week.

Look for the rankings published each Monday during the season.





1. (1) ETSU

2. (2) UNCG

3. (3) Furman

4. (4) Western Carolina

5. (5) Wofford

6. (7) Mercer

7. (6) Chattanooga

8. (8) Samford

9. (9) VMI

10. (10) The Citadel




Last week's ranking in parentheses

--------------------------

Game #22 - at Samford

The Catamounts travel to Birmingham, Alabama to face the Samford Bulldogs for the first time this season. The Cats are coming off a big sweep of Chattanooga, while the Bulldogs are in an eight-game slide.


Game #22 - Samford

When: Wednesday, February, 5 - Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Hanna Center, Birmingham, AL
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-Radio Announcer:  Daniel Hooker
TV/video: ESPN3
-TV Announcer: Curt Bloom (Play by Play), Murry Bartow (Color Analyst), Courtney Johnson (Sidelines)
Live Stats: Samford Live Stats
Message Board:  The Dog Pound

The Series: The Cats are 12-11 in the overall series with the Bulldogs, but only 2-9 on games played in Birmingham. The Cats and Dogs have split the last two seasons, with each team winning at home.

The Bulldogs 2019-20 record:  8-16 overall, 2-8 SoCon, 6-5 home

The Bulldogs are strong down low, ranking second in the SoCon in blocked shots (30 blocks), while Robert Allen (7.2) and Jalen Dupree (7.1) rank 5th and 6th in the league in rebounding through nine contests. Nationally, Samford has the 33rd most rebounds in the country (848) and ranks in the top 50 in free throws made (37th) and free throws attempted (45). Senior guard Josh Sharkey, meanwhile, ranks third in the country in steals (58), steals per game (2.90) and fourth in both assists (153) and assists per game (7.7).

Senior guard Brandon Austin is off to a hot start to his final season. For the season, he is averaging 14.1 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 15 games so far this season. Samford forward Jalen Dupree, who sat out last season as a transfer from Murray State, has had an immediate impact on this year’s team. So far, he is averaging 11.7 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. He has produced three double-doubles so far this season.

Individually, Samford players rank in the top five in the Southern Conference in several statistical categories. Josh Sharkey leads the league in scoring (18.9 ppg.), assists (7.7 apg.), steals (2.9 spg.) and minutes played (34.8 pg.), and he ranks fifth in assist-turnover ratio (1.3). Jalen Dupree ranks third in the league in offensive rebounds (2.7 pg.) and fifth in rebounds (7.0 pg.). Robert Allen ranks fifth in the league in blocked shots per game (1.1), while Brandon Austin ranks fourth in the SoCon in three-point field goal percentage (.426) and third in three-pointers made per game (2.6).

Two of the SoCon's top three scorers will be on the court in Birmingham. Sharkey ranks second in the league in scoring at 18.6 points per game while leading the SoCon at 7.6 assists per game. Faulkner ranks third in scoring at 18.1 points per game and averages 6.2 assists per game to rank second. In SoCon games, Faulkner is averaging 18.9 points per game, fifth just ahead of Dotson, who is averaging a double-double – sixth with 16.6 points per game and a league-leading 10.6 rebounds per game.

Samford is currently 5th in offensive scoring with 74.4 points per game (ppg), but comes in last in the conference in points given up per game at 80 ppg.

Probable Samford Starting Lineup
    PLAYER          PPG RPG APG
0 Brandon Austin 14.1  4.1  1.9
3 Josh Sharkey 18.6  3.8  7.6
21 Robert Allen 12.9  6.6  1.1
24 Jalen Dupree 11.5  7.0  0.3
34 Logan Padgett 2.3  3.5  0.5

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2020 WCU Football Schedule

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Johnny Cash's "Ragged Old Flag"

10 Days until First Pitch - #5 Will Prater

It's only 10 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#5 Will Prater 

POSITION Infield
HEIGHT 6-2
WEIGHT 165
CLASS Junior
HOMETOWN Dallas, Ga.
HIGH SCHOOL East Paulding HS




2019 (Sophomore): Played in all 53 of the team’s games with 52 starts including 42 starts at second base and 10 at shortstop … Batted .282 on the year with 58 hits including 14 for extra bases including 10 doubles, three triples and a home run … Finished the season with 19 multiple-hit games and five multi-RBI outings … Enjoyed a career-long, 8-game hitting streak in early March, accumulating seven, multi-hit games during that stretch … Tallied a career-high three hits four times – three during the eight-game hitting streak … Doubled twice in the season-opener against Oakland (Feb. 15) … Tallied two hits including a double in the home win over Elon (March 15) … Legged out a run-scoring triple in the home win over Wofford (April 6) … Belted his first collegiate home run against VMI (April 27) … Finished 4-for-12 (.333) with four RBI to earn SoCon All-Tournament Team honors at second base.

2018 (Freshman): Played in 55 of the team’s 58 games on the season with 49 starts in the infield including 38 at second base and 11 at shortstop … Finished the year with a .293 batting average, collecting 54 hits in 184 plate appearances … Had five extra-base hits including four doubles and a triple … Drew 18 walks against 49 strikeouts … Made his collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the season-opener at East Carolina (Feb. 16) … Collected his first career base hit as a part of the first multi-hit game of his career in the series finale at ECU (Feb. 18), finishing 2-for-2 in a pinch-hit / defensive substitution role … Made his first career start in the home-opener against Morehead State (Feb. 20), tallying his second-straight multi-hit game in a 2-for-3 showing at the plate while starting at shortstop … Finished rookie season with 17 multiple hit games … Tallied his first extra-base hit with a double as a part of a two-hit outing against nationally-ranked Kentucky (April 11) … Tallied a double and a triple in the series against ETSU in Cullowhee … Was a part of turning a team-high 23 double-plays in the infield this season ... Named to the 2018 Southern Conference All-Freshman team; Summer League: Played in 27 games for the Lake Erie Monarchs of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League … Finished second on the team with a .314 batting average, collecting 32 hits in 102 at-bats with five doubles and a home run adding 12 walks … Drove in five runs while scoring a team-high 26 runs … Stole six bases.

Prior to Western Carolina: Multi-sport athlete who pitched and played the infield in high school ... Two-time all-region as an infielder, collecting all-state honors a senior ... Was tabbed the region player of the year as a senior ... Also played basketball as a prep, averaging nearly 15 points per game as a senior.

Personal: Full name is William Michael Prater ... Is the son of Lisa and Sam Prater ... Has a sister, Sarah ... His father, Sam, played college golf at Kennesaw State.



Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

11 Days until First Pitch - #6 Bryson Parks

It's only 11 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#6 Bryson Parks



POSITION Outfielder
HEIGHT 5-11
WEIGHT 170
CLASS Junior
HOMETOWN Marietta, Ga.
HIGH SCHOOL Hilgrove HS





2019 (Sophomore): Played in 45 of the team’s 53 games making eight starts, all in center field … Batted .171 with six total hits in 35 plate appearances, doubling once against Gardner-Webb (March 20) … Was a pinch-runner 20 times on the season, seeing the bulk of his action as a defensive substitution in the outfield … Drew two walks and stole a pair of bases … Struck out 12 times on the season while drawing a pair of walks ... Named to the 2019 Spring Academic All-Southern Conference team and to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2018 (Freshman): Saw action in 28 games on the season including 24 starts, each coming in center field … Finished the year with a .200 batting average, collecting 15 hits in 75 plate appearances … Six of his 15 hits came during the team’s run through the SoCon tournament … Also made several diving catches in center field that turned heads defensively … Drew three walks and was hit by three pitches on the year … First collegiate hit was a second-inning RBI triple in the series finale against Kent State (March 18), reaching twice in what was his first career start while also recording his first of six stolen bases … Hit his first of two seasonal home runs as a part of his first career two-hit game at home against Samford (May 13) also blasting a solo homer against top-seeded UNCG (May 26) in the conference tournament as a part of a career-best three hits (3-for-4) with two RBI … Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Hit .348 as a senior with three home runs, collecting all-county and all-region honors ... Tabbed as a 2017 Southeast Region Honorable Mention by Perfect Game ... Also played football as a prep earning honorable mention all-state honors, and was an AP / Honors student.

Personal: Full name is Bryson Adarus Parks ... Is the son of Kimberly Favors-Parks and Rick Parks ... Has two siblings with an older brother, Tyrus, who lives in California, and a younger sister, Kyra.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

WCU Player of the Game (Chattanooga)

Purple & Gold's Player of the Game for the Chattanooga game is..........

Carlos Dotson

                                                                       

Senior forward Carlos Dotson completed his fifth straight double-double and twelfth of the season against the Mocs in Chattanooga's roundhouse, scoring 15 points and pulling down 14 rebounds (2 offensive - 12 defensive). He was 7 of 13 in field goals and 1 of 2 from the free-throw line. Carlos also had one assist in the game.

Honorable mention in the Chattanooga game goes to Mason Faulkner with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Thanks to all the entire Catamount team for giving us another game to remember

Purple & Gold congratulates Carlos Dotson on his accomplishments in the Wofford game.



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12 Days until First Pitch - #9 Daylan Nanny

It's only 12 days until the Western Carolina Baseball team takes the field at Hennon Stadium for the first pitch against the Chicago State Cougars to open the 2020 baseball season. Let's take this time to meet this season's Cats with Bats.

We will highlight them by class, starting with the seniors and ending with the brand new freshmen Catamounts.

#9 Daylan Nanny

POSITION Outfielder
HEIGHT 5-11
WEIGHT 210
CLASS Junior
HOMETOWN Plainfield, Ind.
COLLEGE   Arizona Western
HIGH SCHOOL Plainfield HS




2019 (Sophomore): Played in 50 of the team’s 53 games with 50 starts, 42 coming in right field, seven at first base and one as the designated hitter … Batted .320 on the season with 66 hits including a team-best 19 doubles – tied for the second-most in the SoCon – with seven home runs … Drove in 31 runs while scoring 44 on the season … Finished with a team-best 24 multiple-hit games with six multiple-RBI outings … Added 22 walks and seven HBPs to bolster a .403 on-base percentage … First hit at WCU was a double in the season-opener against Oakland (Feb. 15) … Belted a grand-slam home run in the third game against Oakland (Feb. 16) … Doubled twice in his first three-hit performance against Indiana State (Feb. 27) … Named Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week on March 4 after going 9-for-21 (.429) with three doubles, two home runs, and six RBI … Enjoyed a 10-game hitting streak in late-April through early May that included five, multi-hit games … Hit 4-for-13 (.308) with three walks in the SoCon Baseball Championship.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from Arizona Western prior to Fall 2018 ... In 57 games as a freshman at AWC, batted .347 with 11 doubles, a triple and a home run ... Drove in 34 runs including three sac flies, scoring 46 runs ... Drew 39 walks as a part of a .473 on-base percentage ... Stole five bases in six attempts;

High School: Was honorable mention on the 2017 IHSBCA 4-A All-State team ... Finished his prep career with a .394 batting average, collecting a Plainfield High record 100 base hits and 50 RBI ... Posted a career .487 on-base percentage ... Hit .452 with a career-high 38 hits as a senior ... Originally committed to the University of Evansville in the fall of his senior year ... Played with the USSSA 14U National team in a tournament in Italy.

Personal: Is the son of Jennifer and Jamie Nanny.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

The Road to Asheville (2-1-20)

Conference action continues Saturday with only 4 games on tap. The big game for the day starts at 4 pm as UNCG travels to Johnson City to face ETSU in a replay of their matchup in Greensboro in early January.


Western Carolina at Chattanooga
The Cats travel to Chattanooga to face the Mocs in a facility that has proven difficult for Western Carolina to win, as the Moc's Round House has been unkind to the Catamounts. The Mocs and Cats are currently tied with Chattanooga for 5th place in the conference standings with 5-4 records in conference play. While the Mocs are coming into the game off a win, the Cats are coming off a home loss to UNCG on Wednesday. The two teams meet with a top-six spot in the conference standings on the line, as we know, the first six teams at the end of the regular season receive byes in the first round of the SoCon Championships. The Cats are also playing for its second season sweep all-time against the Mocs. Massy favors the home-standing Mocs with a 4 point home advantage and project a 78-74 win for UTC.


UNCG at ETSU
The two teams tied for second place in the conference face off in Johnson City at 4 pm Saturday, in a rematch between these two teams. ETSU picked up the win in the first game that was played in Greensboro, and have declared a White Out at the Freedom Hall for game two, looking for the sweep. The Bucs are coming off their first home loss of the season, while the Spartans are coming off a convincing win over Western Carolina. ETSU leads its series against the Spartans 17-14 all-time. The Bucs and Spartans are randed 1 and 2 respectively in this week's power ranking and rank 4 and 6 respectively in this week's mid-major top 25 poll.  Massey projects a 2 point home advantage for the Bucs, and a 64-62 win by ETSU.


The Citadel at Mercer
The Bulldogs travel to Macon on Saturday in search of their first conference win. However, this will prove difficult as they face one of the hottest teams in the conference, with a five-game win streak and entering the game having just knocked off the #1 ETSU Bucs on Wednesday night. Currently, Mercer is in a three-way tie for 5th place in the conference standing, and the Bulldogs are #10 in the rankings. Massey projects a big home advantage for the Bears, and an eleven point win by Mercer over the Bulldogs, 83-72.


Samford at Wofford
The eight place Samford Bulldogs travels to Spartanburg to face the 4th place Terriers of Wofford in the final game of the day. The Terriers have won 3 of their last 4 games, and are coming in off a win at the Citadel, while the Bulldogs are in a seven-game skid.  Wofford holds an 18-5 series lead and is 6-3 in SoCon play. Massey gives the home-standing Terriers a big home-field advantage and projects an 82-69 win over the Bulldogs.