July 9, 2010

DAHLONEGA, GA – The North Georgia baseball and softball programs proved to be the country's best teams as the duo combined for the best winning percentage in 2010 among the 996 NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III schools.

The North Georgia softball team captured the nation’s attention in 2010 as the squad put together one of the most remarkable runs in NCAA history, winning 51 straight games and advancing to the program’s second straight Division II College World Series.

The Saints were ranked No. 1 in every NFCA Division II regular season poll, and finished 5th in the final poll after dropping a pair of games at the National Championships in St. Joseph, Missouri, to end the year at 51-2. North Georgia is the two-time Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament champions, and have swept their way through the Southeast Regional and Super Regional each of the last two years.

The North Georgia baseball team finished another season in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II top 30 poll, rising to as high as No. 12 in the country before finishing with a 34-17 record as the No. 21 team in the land.

The baseball team also made national headlines when a pair of players were selected in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, as Daniel Petitti was taken in the 37th round by the Oakland Athletics, and Chris Rearick was selected in the 41st round by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Both baseball’s Tom Cantrell and softball's Mike Davenport reached coaching milestones in 2010 as Cantrell earned his 600th career victory, while Davenport picked up his 400th win at North Georgia.

Baseball and softball will have plenty of roles to fill as the two programs look to be the best in country in 2011. Baseball graduated 10 seniors, while softball said goodbye to four seniors, including three of the four all-time home run leaders in program history with Leslee Smith (39), Laura Voyles (30), and Courtney McGuire 30. Baseball’s Andre Airich and Craig Brisson leave the program after making their mark in the Peach Belt Conference record book as the all-time leaders in doubles and hits respectively.