Mount Olive-Chowan holding its own "Final 4"

Published in Sports on March 31, 2006 2:01 PM

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The Final Four might be taking place in Indianapolis and Boston this weekend, but in Mount Olive, the "Diamond Four" will be going on.

Mount Olive will play four games in two days as the Trojans play host to Chowan in a non-conference baseball series this weekend at Scarborough Field. The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 4 p.m., then play a second doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m.

Mount Olive (23-11) is coming off a non-conference doubleheader sweep Wednesday at Virginia State, posting 9-1 and 8-2 wins. The Trojans collected 13 hits in each of the two games.

First baseman Josh Carter continues to pace the Trojans offensively, leading the team with a .429 batting average to go with five home runs and a team-high 50 runs batted in. Carter had a 16-game hitting streak earlier this season.

Stephen Nordan, who has platooned between third base and catcher, is hitting .364 with a team-leading 16 doubles. Nordan is second behind Carter with 32 runs batted in.

Shortstop David Cooper has been a sparkplug in the leadoff spot, batting .355 with a conference-leading 35 stolen bases in 37 attempts. Cooper could be ranked among the national leaders when the first NCAA stats rankings are announced next week. On the mound, the Trojans will likely go with a rotation of Phillip Pennington, Justin Staatz, Jesse Lancaster and Paul Burrow. Donald Huff heads up the bullpen.

Chowan (15-10) is coming off an 8-5 win Thursday over Bridgewater. The Braves, which are in their first year of reclassification from Division III to Division II, have won four of their last five games.

Mount Olive is 14-4 at home this season and has a 13-3 record against non-conference opponents.

MOC Sports Information