Trojans' Koehler, Orrison earn preseason all-Southeast Region accolades

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 25, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Humility and hard work.

Those two characteristics best describe University of Mount Olive baseball teammates Zak Orrison and Joe Koehler.

They also share another trait -- preseason all-Southeast Region team recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Koehler is a first-team pick, while Orrison earned a spot on the second team.

"It took a lot of hard work and early mornings of getting better on and off the field," Koehler said. "Being a transfer last year, I didn't know what to expect, but the coaches took me in and made me better, and the team was always there (for me)."

Koehler batted a crisp .373 and cranked out 11 home runs -- second only to Joe Morozowski, who was drafted as a junior by the Arizona Diamondbacks last season. The former St. Pete (Fla.) Community College slugger collected 56 RBI and logged the second-highest slugging percentage (.698) behind Morozowski.

A senior first baseman, Koehler was part of an infield that turned 44 double plays last season. He is the lone Conference Carolinas player to garner first-team accolades.

"I am very honored," Koehler said.

Orrison, who starred at Fuquay-Varina High School, batted .358 and emerged as one of four Trojans to log 200-plus plate appearances. He recorded 72 hits, 41 RBI and was plunked a team-high nine times by opposing pitchers.

"It took a lot of hard work, more than previous years due to the fact that right out of the gates I wasn't on the field consistently," Orrison said. "I had to take advantage of the time when I was out there, and I'm thankful for my coaching staff for not losing faith in me and still giving me a chance to prove myself."

Orrison is one of five Conference Carolinas players listed on the second team along with catcher Anthony Dimino (Belmont Abbey), third baseman Nick Ninziato (Belmont Abbey), outfielder Ryan Whitt (King) and outfielder Sam Cochran (Erskine).

UMO is ranked No. 2 in the NCBWA preseason South Region poll behind in-state rival Catawba, which emerged as the NCAA Division II College World Series runner-up in 2015. The Trojans received two first-place nods and is the lone Conference Carolinas team among the top 10.

Koehler and Orrison helped guide UMO to 39 wins and its third straight regular-season conference championship in 2015. The Trojans made their sixth consecutive trip to the regionals and 14th overall during the program's Division II era.

"Conference Carolinas is a growing conference in my eyes," Orrison said. "Week in and week out, competition is getting tougher so it's leading to better baseball. That being said, I am happy to achieve this award but I'm already looking ahead to this year and how I can better my team in hopes for a successful season.

"I'm going to do what I need to do to put our team on top."

Orrison was one of 11 UMO baseball players named to the school's Presidential Honor Roll during the fall semester.

The Trojans launch their 2016 campaign Friday at Southeast Region foe Lander (S.C.) University. The teams square off again Saturday.