Baseball team earns regular-season PBC title
The University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team shared the regular-season Peach Belt Conference (PBC) championship, marking its first league title since 2019.
Thanks to a series victory against regular-season co-champion Lander University earlier this season, the Nighthawks (36-13, 23-4 PBC) are the No. 1 seed in the PBC. They will host a four-team, double-elimination bracket May 2-4 in the first weekend of the PBC tournament. Lander will host the other four-team bracket, with the winners of each bracket meeting in a best-of-three championship series May 8-9.
Head coach Tom Cantrell, who is retiring this year at the end of his 26th season leading the program, looks forward to seeing his team continue to push forward in the postseason.
"It's very special. To go all season and not lose a series in conference is so hard," Cantrell said. "I'm very proud of these young men and our coaching staff. I am glad the tournament will run through Dahlonega."
UNG, ranked No. 25 nationally, opens PBC tournament play at 11 a.m. May 2 against No. 8 seed Augusta University at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park in Dahlonega. No. 4 seed Columbus State University faces No. 5 seed Georgia Southwestern State University at 3 p.m. in the other matchup in Dahlonega that day. Games are set for 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 3, with UNG's four-team bracket wrapping up at 11 a.m. May 4 or later that day if another game is needed.
After starting the year 3-4, the Nighthawks won 33 of their next 42 games and never lost two in a row. They won every PBC series for the first time in program history. They were victorious in 65.2% of games on the road and won a championship on the road, clinching the regular-season title in a 3-0 win at Georgia College and State University on April 27.
"They have always responded. Whether that be during a game or after a game, they have continued to find a way to answer," Cantrell said. "I'm proud of the way these guys care for each other. They love being a team and always want the best for each other. They are a joy to be around."
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