2015 NCCAA SOUTH REGION TOURNAMENT

ROME, Ga. – When they begin their defense of the regional championship they won last year, the Shorter baseball team will do so squaring off against the same team they defeated for the title in 2014 when the Hawks face Toccoa Falls in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association South Regional on Thursday at 2 p.m. in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Hawks head to the tournament, hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic, as the event's No. 3 seed and with some momentum as the team ended the regular season with an 18-24 overall record, having won four of their last five games, including winning their final Gulf South Conference series against North Alabama.

In last year's region championship, Shorter punched its ticket to the NCCAA National Tournament downing Toccoa Falls – the Eagles are 21-19 and seeded No. 3 seed – twice, having to play the "if necessary game" to decide the winner.

This time around, the Hawks will put many of those veterans who were part of that postseason run last season, along with some new faces who have made an immediate impact for the team for the first time.

Leading the charge into the regional will be the heart of Shorter's infield that earned the program's first ever All-GSC honors this year – shortstop George Ragsdale, a First Team All-Conference selection, and second baseman Zach Santos, a Second Team conference pick.

Ragsdale ended his first season with the Hawks posting a team leading .361 average, while turning in 12 extra base hits including four home runs and 28 RBI. Santos capped off his final year at Shorter with the third highest average on the team at .311 and led the team in RBIs (35), home runs (7) and doubles (12.) Defensively, the combined to turn 11 double plays.

Ian Redetzky (.319) and Dustin Lawson (.297) add offensive firepower to the Hawks' lineup, while on the mound Shorter will look to a pair of seniors who were the top two starters this season – Travis McPherson, who was named to the 2014 NCCAA National All-Tournament Team, and Russell Crosby.

Rounding out the five-team regional field includes No. 4 Trinity Baptist and No. 5 Clearwater Christian, who face off before the Hawks take the field Thursday, and top-seeded Palm Beach Atlantic.

The regional continues Friday and concludes Saturday with the championship tilt, the winner earning a spot in this year's national tournament that will be held May 20-23 in Mason, Ohio.