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February 13, 2006


Ferrum Set to Defend Baseball Title, Opens Feb. 15 at Home
Panthers Host King College Wednesday at 2 p.m.

FERRUM, Va.  –  The Ferrum College baseball team opens the 2006 season this week with three games, including the first two at home.

Led by 22nd-year Head Coach Abe Naff, the Panthers open Wednesday, Feb. 15, at home against King (Tenn.) College at 2 p.m.  Naff's squad of 47 players will then host Virginia Intermont College Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m.  On Sunday, Feb. 19, Ferrum will travel to Greensboro, North Carolina, to face Guilford College at 2 p.m.

          2006 Ferrum Baseball Preseason Information

A few weeks ago, the USA South Athletic Conference announced that Ferrum had been picked to win the 2006 baseball title in a vote of league's head baseball coaches.  Naff's team received four first-place votes and 33 points in the poll, edging Methodist College, which had two first-place votes and 31 points.  Christopher Newport University has picked to finish third with 29 points and one first-place vote.

          Panthers Picked to Win 2006 USA South Baseball Title

The Panthers won the 2005 USA South Tournament, and advanced to the championship game of the Salisbury Regional.  Naff's team closed out the season with a 23-14-1 record.  Ferrum has won eight USA South (Dixie) titles.  The Panthers won or shared regular season titles in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004, and won the 2005 USA South Tournament.  The Panthers have advanced to NCAA post-season play nine times, from 1988-94, 1996, and 2005.

Naff has compiled a 583-208-2 career coaching mark in 21 seasons as head coach, ranking him among the top five in active winningest NCAA Division III baseball coaches.  Naff is joined in 2006 by Associate Head Coach & Pitching Coach Darren Hodges, now in his eighth year with the staff, and Assistant Coach and Head JV Coach Barry Shelton, now in his third season at Ferrum.

The Panthers open USA South play at Methodist Feb. 25-26.  The 2006 USA South Tournament will be played April 12th - 15th in Burlington, N.C. at the Burlington Athletic Stadium.
 

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