Salisbury, N.C. — Catawba College senior
Casey Gouge was named Division II Conference Commissioners' Association Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year, while head coach
Jim Gantt was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Southeast Region Coach of the Year, the organizations announced.
Additionally, four Catawba Baseball student-athletes picked up All-Region honors across the two organizations.
Gouge earned D2CCA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year honors as well as First Team All-Region recognition from both organizations. Through the Regional, Gouge sports a 3.25 ERA with a 9-1 record, including a strong performance against Young Harris in which he retired the first 15 batters he faced. Gouge adds the honors to SAC Pitcher of the Year accolades.
Gantt earns NCBWA Region Coach of the Year honors for the third straight year. He led the Catawba Indians to their third consecutive South Atlantic Conference regular season title, their third straight year earning hosting duties and their third straight Super Regional appearance. Catawba holds an active SAC regular season series win streak of 30.
Joe Burleyson earned First Team All-Region honors from both organizations. The sophomore ranks second in the country with 11 saves, while sporting a team-leading 2.25 ERA (min. 10 innings pitched). The First Team All-SAC selection recorded the final six outs in Catawba's win over Young Harris to reach the Super Regional.
Brandon Crabtree also added First Team All-Region recognition from both organizations. The 2026 SAC Player of the Year, Crabtree ranks fifth in the nation with 95 hits, while holding a .430 batting average heading into the Super Regional with 16 home runs and 65 runs batted in.
Jake Dunlap was named a Second Team All-Region pick from D2CCA. In his first year of on-field action, Dunlap was named the First Team All-SAC Designated Hitter with a .390 batting average and 18 doubles in the heart of the Catawba lineup.
Catawba advances to Southeast Super Regional action at Newman Park later this week, hosting fifth-seed Francis Marion.
