Summer - Lee University

player returning from the 2007 squad)the Flames finished the long campaignwith a new school record of 63-10.The team set another record with aNo. 2 ranking earlier in the season, andmaintained the No. 3 spot in the finalsix polls. The Flames won 90 percentof their games at Olympic Field, accruinga 36-4 mark at home. Brew, tabbedas the region and conference Coach ofthe Year, now has a 112-25 record inhis second year at the helm.Pablo Lopez,Lee’s First TeamNAIA All-AmericanpitcherIncluded in a 49-5 regular seasonwas an impressive season sweep overarchrival and highly-regarded TennesseeWesleyan College. Lee alsoboasted wins over nationally-rankedTrevecca Nazarene University andCumberland University, while taking 3-of-4 from Lindenwood University, a2007 World Series qualifier.The team batted .357 with 253 extrabase hits and 1150 stolen bases overall,but it was Lee’s pitching that helpedcarry the Flames to the runner-up slot inthe World Series. The hurlers finishedthe year with a 3.54 ERA and juniorPablo Lopez was named an NAIA FirstTeam All-American and to the NAIAWorld Series All-Tournament team.Individually, the Lee men havebeen just as impressive. Second TeamAll-American and Region XIII andSSAC Player of the Year, junior firstbaseman Chris Warters blasted 20home runs, just one short of therecord. He batted .438. His 82 RBI seta new Lee record, and his 25 doublesis just one off the mark.Jeremy Hutslar (.388) completedhis brilliant four-year Lee career instyle. The All-SSAC and All-Regionoutfielder also won a spot on theNAIA Series All-Tournament team.He was presented the tournament’s“Charlie Hustle” award and for thesecond straight year was a SSAC andNAIA Scholar Athlete, joining teammateBen Wilson in earning thesame academic honors. Hutslar stole44 bases this season. He walks awayfrom Lee with the career runs-scored(264) and season hits (111) andcareer base-stealing (113) records. Hiscareer .385 batting mark tied AaronSimmons' record.Brian Bistagne (.392) was outstandingin the Series. The juniorshortstop dazzled the Series crowdwith his defensive play and walkedaway with the tourney’s Gold Glovehonor and a place on the Series All-Tournament team.Clint Harrelson (.374), Chris Dubon(.368 with 10 homers), Warters, andKevin Wyman were all tabbed to theAll-Region XII Team. Josh Guy (.323with 9 homers), had three of thosehome runs in the Series. Senior EdgarMercado came up with several key hitsand developed into one of the nation’sbest at second base.Lopez (10-1, 12 saves, 1.63 ERA)paced the pitching staff. He broke therecord for appearances in a season(29). Dallas Sims (10-1), JoelMatthews (10-2), Dave Mason (9-1)and Jeff Ibarra (10-2) were standoutsall season long. Sims was an All-Region pitcher and hurled the hugewin over Lewis-Clark and Matthewsgot the decision over Oklahoma City.Ryan Stovall and Ibarra came onstrong in relief roles and Mason wassolid in the win over Union.Souther StepsDown as HeadGolf CoachLee University’s Jack Souther officiallyretired from head golf coachingduties at the end of the 2008 season.Souther came to Lee in 1982 afterretiring as a superintendent in the Ohiopublic school system. He arrived as thewomen’s head basketball coach andteacher and for 10 years he directedhoop clubs and also coached women’sfastpitch softball for four seasons.The golf team sent coach Southerout in style. The Flames won the SSACand Region XIII championships andearned a fifth straight trip to the NAIANational Tournament. The championshipalso marks the first region titlefor Souther and his team.“Coach Souther has been a vitalpart of our athletic department formany years,” said Lee Athletic DirectorLarry Carpenter. “He has taken the Leegolf program to the top tier and anythingless comes as a disappointmentfor him. At 81 years old, he still comesin every morning wanting to knowwhat he can do to help others. He’s oneof the most loyal and supportive peopleto ever coach at Lee and will certainlybe missed by all of us.”Coach Souther’s golf team gave him aspecial retirement gift by winning theNAIA Region XIII Golf Tournament andreaching the National Tournament forthe fifth straight year. Souther is joined(from left) Josh Lawson, Matt Clouse, TylerNelson, Wes Nobles and Sam Bedwell.TORCH • Summer 200825