Three returning starting infielders has an experienced Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team primed for a return trip to the Avista-NAIA World Series during a 2019 season that's on the verge of its first pitch.

Seniors Alex Garland and Brandon Frazier return at the corner infield positions. They joined preseason All-American second baseman Cam Coursey in playing key roles as the Grizzlies enjoyed considerable success last spring. This included a 50-win season, a No. 3 ranking in the final national poll and the program's second World Series appearance.

"The experiences Alex, Cam and Brandon got last year in playing at the World Series should continue to benefit us this year. They each understand our program's high expectations and having to play at highest level each time they hit the playing field. The infield group's leadership is spread throughout the team," said Head Coach Brad Stromdahl, who enters his seventh season leading the Grizzlies.

Garland, an imposing 6-foot-5, 234-pound first baseman, connected on nine home runs and drove in a team-leading 57 runs in 2018. He also batted .372 and legged out 20 doubles in 54 games.
Frazier started 39 games at third base and collected 43 RBI. He had seven hits across the team's four NAIA World Series games in Lewiston, Idaho.

Coursey made a quick first-year impression on the college diamond, setting a single-season school record with a .485 batting average behind 94 hits and five triples. He also contributed 60 runs and 18 stolen bases.

Senior Brandon Robinson saw action in 42 games last season at multiple middle infield positions and scored 25 runs, while sophomore Sean Mootrey is another first-base option after playing in 23 games in 2018.

Senior Brenton Burgess, sophomore Livingston Morris, and freshmen Ali LaPread and Brandon Nixon are newcomers looking to compete for playing time this spring.

The 2019 season is scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 1, with a single nine-inning game against defending NAIA champion and preseason No. 1-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) from the Grizzly Baseball Complex. View the team's entire 2019 schedule HERE.