The Cleveland State baseball Cougars open their season today at 3 p.m. in Emerson, Georgia, against Georgia Highlands, which went 2-1 there this past weekend against Chattanooga State. This is Mike Policastro's 26th season as coach of the Cougars, who were 39-18 overall and 14-12 in the TCCAA last year, and he has 25 new players, according to a Cleveland State release. But there are some proven returners, including third baseman Rhett Baldwin (.317), center fielder Tucker Mendenhall (.250) and pitchers Ryan Inches, Brock Browning and Gunnar Norwood. Inches was 6-3 in 15 appearances in 2018, while reliever Browning was 1-0 in 14. Right-handed transfer Zach Hall had five wins for South Carolina-Beaufort, and freshman lefty Justin Morris and redshirt freshman Ethan Walls are other top starting candidates with freshman Jonny Hickman - also an outfielder - the likely closer. Other position players vying for starting roles include Lance Dockery in the outfield; Parker Hill at shortstop; Connor Weldy, Pete Williams and Andrew Carpenter at second; Caleb Hopkins, Matt Hopson and Marcial Hernandez at first; and five catchers. Policastro said in the release that "the guys have worked really hard" in the fall and the preseason and they and he are excited to start real games. "I feel like we have the talent to compete in our conference and have success throughout the season," he said.
Golf
' The Lee University women's golf team, ranked 15th in NCAA Division II, opened the 2019 part of its season with an eighth-place finish in the World Golf Invitational in St. Augustine, Florida. The Lady Flames tied with Gulf South Conference rival West Florida at 622 Sunday and Monday on the Slammer and Squire course. Lee junior Annika Gino tied for 21st individually at 153, followed by freshman Carson McKie in a tie for 35th at 156. Both opened with 72s.
Basketball
' The Bryan College women's basketball team, ranked 15th in NAIA Division II, survived a serious challenge to its unbeaten Appalachian Athletic Conference record in a makeup game Monday. The Lady Lions (23-1, 21-0) won for the 22nd time in a row, 60-56 at Montreat, where the Bryan men lost 74-70 but had five double-figure scorers. For the Lady Lions, who regularly feature a variety of standouts, Tristan McClellan scored 15 points, Karli Combs added 10 and Amber Levi had eight rebounds. For the Lions (13-12, 10-9), EJ Bush and Clay Hertel double-doubled with 21 and 11 points and 10 rebounds apiece, while Brandon Thomas scored 12 points, Keaton Dotson matched Hertel's 11 and Isaiah McClain had 10.
' The Tennessee Wesleyan men endured their 12th consecutive loss Monday night in a makeup game at Hiwassee. The 64-61 defeat left the Bulldogs at 8-15 for the season. They had edged Hiwassee 79-76 in their opener on Oct. 24.