Consecutive 20 and 30-Win Seasons
The Sea Gulls recorded their ninth straight 20-win season and their fourth-straight 30-win campaign in 2003. Salisbury set a new team record for consecutive wins this season, mounting a 15-game streak from March 9 to March 26. The Gulls are also two victories shy of reaching the single-season record for most wins, 33, established in 1977 and 2001.

Statistically Speaking
Salisbury brings a .319 team batting average into the tournament and averages 7.0 runs per game. The Sea Gulls have scored 10 runs or more 11 times this season.  Pitching and defense have helped carry the Gulls in 2003, as the defense is ranked 21st in the nation with a .960 fielding percentage, and the pitching is ranked 26th nationally with a 3.82 earned run average.

Individual Leaders
First team all-Capital Athletic Conference DH Rob Kassekert leads the club in nine offensive categories. The junior completed the regular season with a .417 batting average, along with team leading totals in hits (65), doubles (14), home runs (6), RBI (47) and total bases (97). CAC Rookie of the Year Greg Lemon is second on the team with a .385 batting average, and ranks second on the team in runs (38) and doubles (8). Fellow freshman, 1B Nick Pegelow sports a .357 average, and is tied with Lemon for second on the club with 29 RBI. Sophomore 3B David Sutton (.341) earned second team all-CAC honors and adds four home runs and 28 RBI. Junior CF Trey Cobb (.315) is second on the team in steals (8) and third in runs (34).

Willey Leads Gulls in Wins and Saves
Senior lefthander and first team all-CAC selectee Cory Willey heads the pitching staff as the team leader in victories (6-3), saves (7) and earned run average (2.19). Willey is also the team leader in innings (90.1), strikeouts (94) and appearances (21). Sophomores Brian Shipe (5-3, 3.32 era) and Scott Byers (5-0, 5.05 era) are tied for second on the team in victories. Senior Star Kriger and freshman Nick Dunk are each 4-1 on the season. 

Head Coach Doug Fleetwood
Doug Fleetwood is in his third year as the head coach of the Salisbury baseball program and serving in his fifth year overall with the Sea Gulls. He brings a 94-37-4 career record into the 2003 NCAA Tournament, and has piloted his club to back-to-back CAC titles in 2001 and 2002. He has also been named by his peers as the CAC’s Coach of the Year in each of his three seasons. After two years as the team’s hitting coach, Fleetwood was named as the new head coach prior to the 2001 season. In his first season, Fleetwood piloted the Sea Gulls to the South Region title and their first-ever appearance in the College World Series. Prior to joining the Sea Gulls, Fleetwood piloted the Cambridge/South Dorchester (Md) High School baseball team for 12 seasons, winning the state title in 1978 and advancing to the state regionals 11 times. He compiled a 171-63-1 record. 

  Quoting the Coach
“If you’d of told me at the beginning of the season that we’d have 31 wins, I’d of taken it,” said Fleetwood. “We’ve had to play a lot of younger guys this season, but we’ve gotten better everyday. We’re certainly very pleased to be back in the NCAA regional tournament. I think the South is a very tough region and we feel very good about being selected once again.

"I think the team that gets hot over a three or four-day tournament will probably come out as the regional champion. Certainly, we need to pitch well and play solid defense. We’ll need to do a good job in situational hitting also. We don’t have too many guys who have been to the regional before, but regardless of how we fare, this will be a good experience for our younger players.”

2003 Team Roster  |  2003 Team Statistics