STATESBORO, Ga. - The final NCAA Division I baseball statistics were released and Georgia Southern University finished the year ranked among the 'Top 4' in five different offensive categories.
The 2008 Eagles (33-25 overall) put up record-breaking numbers, finishing second nationally in: batting average (.346), scoring (10.3 runs p/g, 595 overall), home runs per game (1.97, 114 overall) and slugging percentage (.584). Georgia Southern also ranked fourth nationally in doubles per game, averaging 2.66 per contest (154 overall).
GS finished 17th nationally in stolen bases per game (1.86, 108 overall), 13th in walks (302), 36th in hit by pitches (80), 10th in sacrifice flies (37) and 60th in fielding percentage (.969). Last year the Eagles broke five season program records and posted second-highest numbers in two more categories.
Chris Shehan, an All-America outfielder and current prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization, ended the year second in batting average (.438), runs per game (1.45, 84 overall) and on-base percentage (.557). In addition, Shehan finished 10th in home runs (22), 16th in RBI per game (1.33) and third in slugging percentage (.835).
Currently with the Danville Braves in the Rookie Class A Appalachian League, Shehan is batting .247 with 10 runs scored, three home runs and nine RBI in 20 games.
Fellow All-America Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) was 48th in batting average (.398), 19th in runs per game (1.26, 63), 16th in doubles per game (0.44, 22), 22nd in home runs per game (0.34, 17), eighth in slugging percentage (.781) and 46th in on-base percentage (.494).
Wright recently joined the Woodstock River Bandits in the Valley League. In 12 games Wright is batting .262 in the wooden bat league. The rising senior has scored three runs, knocked two doubles, one triple and driven in five. Wright has also recorded two outfield assists.
Rising senior Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) has simply been dominant in the prestigious Cape Cod League. The right-hander, who started the Eagles' Southern Conference Tournament opener, owns a 1-0 record with eight saves and 0.64 ERA in 12 relief appearances.
Kamppi has fanned 15 batters in 14.0 innings pitched. He currently is tied for first among all pitchers in the Cape for appearances and is tied for second in saves. Kamppi has helped the Orleans Cardinals to a 13-8 record, tops not only in the Eastern Division but currently the best record in the League.
Rising junior third baseman A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) also finished the year ranked among the nation's best. Wirnsberger finished 13th nationally hitting 21 home runs. He stood 22nd in RBI per game (1.26, 73 overall) and 37th in total bases (163).
After limited time in the Cape, Wirnsberger also joined the Valley League and Luray Wranglers. In his first game Wirnsberger went 4-for-5, including a home run, with four runs scored and five RBI.
Rising sophomore Tony Chisman (Conyers/Salem) has posted a 3-1 record with three saves and a 3.52 ERA for the Sanford Mariners in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Chisman leads the squad making 11 relief appearances, logging 16.1 innings. He has struck out 16 to seven walks allowed as opponents are batting just .179 off the right hander. Chisman led the Eagles making 28 relief appearances last year, finishing with a 1-1 record and 6.53 ERA in 30.1 innings, striking out 36.
All-Southern Conference catcher Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) is batting .203 for Gastonia in the Coastal Plains League. He has started 17 of his 18 games played, recording six runs scored, four doubles, one home run, three RBI and seven walks. Defensively he owns a .966 fielding percentage and thrown out 3-of-8 runners trying to steal.
Jeremy Beckham stole 24 bases last year, finishing 39th nationally in steals per game. The departed senior joined Princeton of the Tampa Bay Rays organization, also located in the Appalachian League. The Eagles' former starting second baseman is currently batting .273 in 13 games. Beckham, a 17th round pick, has played in three more games and owns a better batting average than his younger brother Tim, the Rays' first overall pick.
Last season, Blake Nation ranked 75th nationally recording seven saves. The right-hander has one save in five relief appearances for the Pulaski Mariners (Seattle Mariners organization) in the Rookie Appalachian League. Nation has fanned eight batters in 8.0 innings pitched.