2019 Baseball Team Photo
Cecil Williams Photography
Claflin Baseball Set to Participate in the Independent Schools Baseball Tournament

Baseball Morris Wright

Claflin Baseball Takes Part in Independent College Baseball Tournament

Marion, N.C. - The Claflin University Panthers will participate in the Division II Independent College Baseball Tournament at the Big League Camp facility located at Lake James in Marion, N.C. this Thursday-Sunday, May 2-5, 2019.
 
Claflin will be one of five teams vying for the tournament championship.  The Panthers will participate in the tournament along with host Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), Bluefield State, Salem University and Virginia State University (VSU).
 
The Panthers will open play in the round robin event on Thursday (May 2) with a pair of games starting at 11 a.m. against Salem followed by a 5 p.m. contest with VSU. Claflin will play single games on Friday (May 3) against Bluefield State and Saturday (May 4) with WSSU.
 
The championship is scheduled for Sunday (May. 5).
 
The Panthers faced all four teams during the regular season, compiling a 6-7 record in 13 games that included a three-game sweep of Bluefield State (8-1, 7-6, and 10-2) in Orangeburg. Claflin dropped series to Salem (2-1) and WSSU (3-0), while splitting a four-game set with VSU (2-2).
 
WSSU will enter the tournament with the best record at 31-15 and 11-4 over the last 15 games, while Claflin holds the second- best mark of 23-15.  The Panthers have dropped five of their last six games with the lone win coming against rival Benedict 13-10. At one point during the regular season, Claflin was 12-4 in its first 16 games.
 
Rounding out the field are Salem with an even .500 record of 24-24 followed by VSU at 17-18 and Bluefield Field compiling a 14-21 mark.
 
On the offensive side, Claflin and Bluefield State are hitting .297 each as a team with Salem and WSSU batting .289 and .288, respectively.
 
Salem has generated 336 runs with 44 home runs, while WSSU collected 37 homers and produced 305 runs followed by Claflin with 26 home runs to go with 290 runs.
 
Salem also host the top runner producer in Dalton Robinson, who's batting .327 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs. Other outstanding offensive players in the tournament that's driven in over 40 runs includes Peyton Durham of Bluefield State at 43 RBIs with a .402 batting average; and Nick Williams, who's hitting .341 at the plate and 41 RBIs.
 
Leading the Panthers will be Clyde Parker with a .416 batting average, three home runs and 38 RBIs; and Craig Hopkins at .351 that includes six home runs and 35 RBIs.
 
In the pitching department, Cole Parks of Winston-Salem State has the most wins at 10-2 with 88 strike outs followed by Sam Chapman of Salem at 8-2 along and 61 strike outs.
 
Claflin has three pitchers with five wins apiece, Cleveland Westbrook (5-4) with 72 strikeouts, Dillon Parker (5-2) and Makai Holloway (5-3).
 
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Players Mentioned

Makai Holloway

#12 Makai Holloway

P
5' 10"
Sophomore
L/L
Craig Hopkins

#20 Craig Hopkins

OF
5' 10"
Senior
L/L
Clyde Parker

#26 Clyde Parker

C
6' 3"
Senior
R/R
Dillon Parker

#10 Dillon Parker

P/OF
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Cleveland Westbrook

#16 Cleveland Westbrook

P
5' 9"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Makai Holloway

#12 Makai Holloway

5' 10"
Sophomore
L/L
P
Craig Hopkins

#20 Craig Hopkins

5' 10"
Senior
L/L
OF
Clyde Parker

#26 Clyde Parker

6' 3"
Senior
R/R
C
Dillon Parker

#10 Dillon Parker

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
P/OF
Cleveland Westbrook

#16 Cleveland Westbrook

5' 9"
Senior
R/R
P