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Matt is a senior infielder from Cary, N.C. A double major in finance and marketing, Holt had a red hot second half of the season last year, batting .342 over his final 23 games to finish with a .296 batting average. During that time he hit in sixteen straight games, UNCW's longest hitting streak of the season. Check out his blog here.






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PING!BASEBALL SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW
Chris Shehan
Georgia Southern Eagles

Last Saturday, in one of the most lopsided defeats since Sonny Corleone was shot down at the tollbooths, the Georgia Southern Eagles hit an NCAA record tying 14 home runs in route to a 26-8 victory over Columbia. Leading the charge against the Lions was junior outfielder Chris Shehan who went 4-6 in the game with two of GSU's historic homers.

Shehan and the Eagles' offensive explosion over the weekend was far from a aberration. Georgia Southern has tallied ten runs ten times so far this season, reaching the 15 run plateau in five of those contests. Shehan is batting .432 in nineteen games to date, with eight homeruns, seven doubles and a triple for a ridiculously absurd .878 slugging percentage. He has also walked 17 times and been hit by a pitch four times for a .558 on base percentage. The junior from Strasburg, Pennsylvania is also a perfect 10 for 10 in stolen base attempts.

Last season Shehan was among the Southern Conference leaders finished 10th in hits per game (1.37) and tied for fourth in doubles per game at 0.34. He led the 34-28 Eagles in batting average (.341), runs (59) and tied for the lead in doubles (21) Furthermore he was second on the team in RBI (50), home runs (10) and stolen bases (12).

Shehan was able to take time out of congratulating teammates at home plate to answer a couple of questions from Ping!Baseball:

PING!: What brought you down to Georgia Southern from Strasburg, PA?

Shehan: played for a summer team called the All-Star Baseball Academy. Our head coach was Mike Manning. Coach Manning and my current coaches (head coach Rodney Hennon, assistant coaches Mike Tidick and Jason Beverlin) were college teammates. Georgia Southern has had a nice connection over the years bringing down players from the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware area.

PING!: The Eagles' four games against Columbia was one of the most bizarre series I've ever seen with GSU tallying a bipolar amount of runs: five, then 26 with a fourteen homeruns, followed by just three and then another offensive outburst of 22. What on earth was going for such up and down results?

Shehan: Last year we had the same type of problems with consistency. One of our main goals this year is to take the same approach each day, that should make us more consistent. After each of the two losses I'm proud of the way we as a team bounced back.

PING!: When you were up 26-8 was there any fear that the Lions would score a
quick two touchdowns late and then go for two and tie the game?

Shehan: I have the utmost confidence in our offense and defensively we dropped back into a prevent defense and didn't give up the big bomb.

PING!: Would you rather be an All Star baseball player like Chipper Jones or a best selling music artist like Garth Brooks?

Shehan: Definitely Chipper Jones. I enjoy county music but it's every collegiate player's dream to make it to the big leagues and have a successful career much like Chipper has had.

PING!: Is there any significance to your wearing of the number 16?

Shehan: In high school I was actually 24, but when I got here a senior wore #24 and I was assigned #16. Being superstitious I didn't want to change numbers after my freshman year.

PING!: For the most part the Eagle team remained intact over the summer. With
a near .500 mark last season, how do you feel about GSU making run for the postseason this spring?

Shehan: As I said prior, after last year our focus is to be consistent throughout the year. If we can achieve that, then we should definitely have a shot at making a postseason run. We have all the pieces in place to do just that.

PING!: How about them Millersville Marauders (Chris' brother Jon is in his first year as head baseball coach for MU)? Are they gonna get it done this season?

Shehan: After a tough season last year I feel my brother has done a great job improving them as a whole and their future is looking very bright. As for this year I see a lot of improvements and possibly a run into the conference tournament. I think my brother Jon has done an outstanding job in his coaching career and I see them being a contender possibly this year and certainly in future years."

PING!: Honestly, what was the real reason behind the team's 14 home runs last Saturday? Loaded bats? HGH? Voodoo?

Shehan: We were upset we couldn't go on Spring Break, so we've been taking out our frustrations on the opposing pitchers!

PREVIOUS PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS

2010
A.J. Kirby-Jones Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Akeem Hood North Carolina Central Eagles
Alex Pracher Stanford Cardinal
Christopher Manno Duke Blue Devils
Collin Cargill Southern Miss Golden Eagles
George Springer Connecticut Huskies

Will Gowdy *

OBU Tigers
Coach Dave Schmotzer * Coker Cobras
Blake Forsythe Tennessee Volunteers
Matt Purke TCU Horned Frogs

* - DII
2009
Matt den Dekker Florida Gators
Geoff Parker Florida State Seminoles
Chris Dominguez Louisville Cardinals
Nick McCully Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Matt Carpenter TCU Horned Frogs
Mike Roberts Columbia Lions
Bradley Logan Georiga State Panthers
Christian Bergman UC Irvine Anteaters
Matt Otteman UT Arlington Mavericks
Matt and Rich Gedman Massachusetts Minutemen
Jace Brinkerhoff and Billy Burgess Utah Valley University Wolverines
Kyle Roller East Carolina Pirates
Joey Bergman and Jesse Simpson College of Charleston Cougars

DII

Matt Cotellese West Chester Golden Rams
Mike Adams Franklin Pierce Ravens
J.D. Martinez &
Michael Fiers
Nova Southeastern Sharks
Kevin Pillar &
Phil Van Doren
Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros
Jordan Schmitt Abilene Christian University Wildcats
Tim Freshour Shippensburg Red Raiders
Ryan Kirkman UNC Pembroke Braves

 

Previous Years

2008
Tommy Medica Santa Clara Broncos
Jeremy Hamilton Wright State Raiders
Kyle Bellows San Jose State Spartans
Mike Ford and
Mario Hollands
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Alex Buchholz Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
Will Delawter UMBC Retrievers
Brad McElroy Charlotte 49ers
Ross Humes Washington State Cougars
Gary Novakowski
and Tom Koehler
Stony Brook Seawolves
Asher Wojciechowski The Citadel Bulldogs
Mitch Harris Navy Midshipmen
Conor Gillaspie Wichita State
Xavier Scruggs UNLV
Christian Friedrich Eastern Kentucky
Adam Zornes Rice Owls
Adam Warren North Carolina
Scott Eckard, Kyle Bowley
& Andrew Runion
USC Upstate Trojans
Joe Godri Villanova Wildcats
Kyle Russell Texas Longhorns
Clay Whittemore Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Andrew Means Indiana Hoosiers
Nate Freiman Duke Blue Devils
Jason Buursma Bucknell Bison
Chris Shehan Georgia Southern Eagles
Ed Mathey Northern Illinois Huskies
K.K. Chalmers Memphis Tigers
Trey Sutton Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Michael Rockett Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
Brett Nommensen Eastern Illinois Panthers
George Brown St. John's Red Storm
Buzzy Haydel LSU Tigers

DII

Scott Savastano Franklin Pierce Ravens
Michael Brzezinski St. Mary's Rattler's
Erik Lovett Mount Olive Trojans
Andy Kampsen Northern State

 

2007
Jordan Pacheo
& Ian Hollick
New Mexico
Scott Simon
& Matt German
Northern Illinois
Matt La Porta Florida
Bryan Rembisz
& Kyle Henry
Vermont
Michael Arensdorff
& Zach Rodeghero
Valparaiso
T.J. Baxter
& Matt McKissick
New Orleans
Craig Brookes
& Steve Gerstenberger
Michigan State
Robbie Rowen
& Marcus Wynn
Long Island
Devin Thomas
& Jeff Deitz
Brown
Ryan Langlais North Dakota State
Kellen Kulbacki James Madison Dukes
Curt Smith Maine BlackBears
Austin Krum Dallas Baptist Patriots
Matt Cusick Southern California Trojans
Pat Venditte Creighton Bluejays
James Simmons UC Riverside Highlanders
Tony Campana Cincinnati Bearcats
Clint Robinson Troy Trojans
David Wood Texas State
Kraig Binick New York Institute of Technology Bears
Brendon Hitchcock Binghamton Bearcats
Brian Rike Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Arik Hempy South Carolina Gamecocks
Tyson Brummett UCLA Bruins
Matt Hauge
& Curt Rindal
Washington Huskies
Robbie Widlansky Florida Atlantic Owls
Parker Dalton Texas A&M Aggies
Greg Sexton William and Mary Tribe
Joe Savery Rice Owls

PREVIOUS COACH SPOTLIGHTS

Scott Norwood Arkansas Little Rock Trojans
Scott Forbes North Carolina Tar Heels
Rob Childress Texas A&M Aggies
Joe Litterio Wagner Seahawks
Lelo Prado South Florida Bulls
Brian O'Connor Virginia Cavaliers

DII

Murphy Su'a Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros
Rudy Garbolosa Lynn Fighting Knights
Todd Wilkinson Barton College Bulldogs
Stan Sanchez Colorado State University - Pueblo

2008
George Horton Oregon Ducks
Nick Restaino Fordham Rams
Dan Callahan Southern Illinois Salukis
Mervyl Melendez Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Rob Walton Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Mike McRae Canisius Golden Griffins
Frank Leoni William & Mary Tribe
Brad Hill Kansas State Wildcats
Jim Toman Liberty Flames
Vance Law Brigham Young Cougars
Buddy Bolding Longwood Lancers
Dan Heefner Dallas Baptist Patriots
Mike Gillespie UC Irvine Anteaters
Mike Batesole Fresno State Bulldogs

 

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