ATHENS, W.Va. – The past calendar year for Concord University Athletics have been full of memorable accomplishments, unforgettable games and moments and record-setting players and coaches.
From December 22 through December 31, the CU Sports Information Department will countdown the top 10 moments of 2023 in Concord Athletics.
The countdown enters the final phases as Concord baseball takes center stage at number three.
When
Kevin Garrett stepped down as head coach of the CU baseball program in May 2022, it was never his intention to skipper in the dugout again. However, he found himself back in charge of the program in March after a coaching change. He inherited back a team that was also 4-12.
Seemingly overnight, the team found success as it quickly turned around the tough start to the 2023 campaign.
The Mountain Lions won five straight games to open conference play and a 17-1 start to Mountain East Conference play restored the energy to a program that has never been a stranger to winning.
Concord primarily used six pitchers—three starters of
Eddie Blake,
Andrew Neff and
Rylee Nicholas along with a bullpen game—to skate by the four-game weekend series. Meanwhile, the offense found its way by hitting .327 in 30 conference games. In his final season at CU,
Josh Adkins had a breakout season with a .384 average to go with 22 extra-base hits and 36 RBI.
Zack Saryeldin continued his offensive prowess from 2022 with a .318 average and 20 doubles in 2023.
The 23 conference wins for the Mountain Lions were the most since the MEC employed a 32-game conference schedule prior to the 2017 season.
Garrett was voted as the MEC Coach of the Year after going 25-9 in his return to the dugout. Neff was named the MEC Pitcher of the Year after setting program records for wins (12) and strikeouts (95). Adkins,
D.J. Christian Jr., Neff and Saryeldin and
Chris Satcher were among the 10 All-MEC selections for CU.
And Concord made it all the way to the final day of the MEC Tournament before bowing out ahead of the MEC Championship Game.
Â
