Palmetto State Baseball team of the week, May 17-23: Columbia International

Columbia International (3-0 for the week)
(beat College of the Ozarks, Toccoa Falls and Concordia Mich. in NCCAA World Series)

Columbia International's inaugural season of varsity baseball was stopped short last year because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Rams finished 9-13.

Coach Jonathon Johnson's squad has built on that foundation and continues to reach for more.

The Rams (35-26) beat then-No. 1 Tennessee Wesleyan in a regular-season series of the NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference, then qualified for the league tournament and won its first game before being eliminated.

A chance to extend the season came with invitation to the National Christian College Athletic Association playoffs. CIU swept the South Region tournament in three games to qualify for the World Series in Pickens County.

The Rams have kept up the momentum, winning their first three games of pool play on Friday and Saturday to assure a spot in the semifinals. A win in the semifinal game on Monday - regardless of the final result of the pool game earlier in the day - would send Columbia International to Tuesday's championship.

Joshua Hernandez has been one of CIU's offensive catalysts all season. He leads the team with 17 homers and 61 RBIs. In addition he has a win and a save during six pitching appearances. Gabe Austin (14 homers), Robert Bell (11) and Grant Bodison (9 despite playing fewer than half the games) have produced as well. Carter Willis was the most recent offensive hero, hitting a grand slam in Saturday's 6-4 win over Concordia to clinch the semifinal berth.

Justin Parish and Christian Orr share the team lead with seven wins. Orr and Hunter Garris have three saves apiece.

Columbia International (3-0 for the week)
(Won three games in pool play at NCCAA World Series) 

Up next for the Rams: Kansas Christian in final pool play game Monday in Central, then semifinal later in the day in Easley.

Also considered

Charleston Southern (3-0)
Coastal Carolina (4-0)
Presbyterian (2-1) - qualified for Big South Tournament
USC Upstate (3-1) - finished second in Big South standings
Wofford (3-1) - won SoCon regular-season title

Previous winners
Jan. 29-Feb. 7: Lander
Feb. 8-14: USC Beaufort
Feb. 15-21: North Greenville
Feb. 22-28: South Carolina
March 1-7: USC Upstate
March 8-14: The Citadel
March 15-21: Florence-Darlington Tech
March 22-28: Clemson 
March 29-April 4: Erskine

April 5-11: Newberry
April 12-18: USC Aiken
April 19-25: Spartanburg Methodist
April 26-May 2: (tie) Clemson, North Greenville
May 3-9: Wofford
May 10-16: Florence-Darlington Tech