Who's hot; who's not, Feb. 13

When I did this last year it evolved into me trying to find something to say about every team every week and that became a chore. I'll try to be more selective this season.

Sizzlin'

* Bob Jones (Last week: 2-1. Overall: 2-1. Streak: Won 2) - Of the Bruins' 18 total wins over their first two seasons, four came against Mid-Atlantic Christian. Opening the 2023 season against the Mustangs seemed to be a good chance to have a winning record for the first time in a season. The series was moved up a day by rain, and the Bruins dropped the opener. But a doubleheader on Friday was just the ticket for coach Brent Casteel's club. They scored nine runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1 and coasted to a 16-7 victory.  BJU rallied from an early 2-1 deficit in the nightcap to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the final inning. Mid-Atlantic Christian loaded the bases with one out, but an infield popup turned into a game-ending double play and the Bruins found themselves sitting above .500 for the first time in program history. Up next: at Covenant College, Saturday.

* Britton Morris had decent numbers for Columbia International as a freshman, batting .295 with four homers and 15 RBI in 29 games. The sophomore out of Laurence Manning Academy exceeded his 2022 home run numbers in a little more than a day over the weekend, hitting five home runs in the final three games at Keiser.  He went hitless in the season opener, but was six-for-12 after that. Up next: at home against Milligan, Friday.

* Erskine (Last week: 3-1. Overall: 5-2. Streak: Won 2) - The Flying Fleet have won five of six since a season-opening loss. One reason has been a lot of gap shots. Coach Marc Crocco's team has 31 extra-base hits - including 13 home runs - in seven games. The ringleader has been Armando Becerra, who is hitting .486 and slugging .886. He has three doubles, a triple and three homers, resulting in a team-leading nine RBI. Up next: at Limestone, Tuesday.

* Florence-Darlington Tech (Last week: 3-0. Overall: 7-3. Streak: Won 3) - The Stingers won all three games at a tournament in Florida as coach Preston McDonald's squad primes for a successful defense of its NJCAA Region 10 title. Four regulars are batting .419 or higher. Up next: at home against Harford, Friday.

* Newberry (Last week: 2-0. Overall: 4-1. Streak: Won 2) -  The Wolves have had some excellent starting pitching in the early going, covering for an offense that is still looking for some players to step up, Braylin Marine has continued his stellar production from a season ago, batting .526.   Up next: at USC Aiken, Monday.

* North Greenville (Last week: 4-0. Overall: 7-0. Streak: Won 7) -  Five of North Greenville's seven wins this season have included rallies to wipe out deficits. Counting the final five games of the 2022 national championship season, the Crusaders have won 12 straight. Up next: at home against Barton, Friday.

* USC Beaufort (Last week: 2-0. Overall: 2-4.  Streak: Won 2) - Moving from the NAIA's Sun Conference to NCAA's Division II Peach Belt Conference suggests the players' tans may suffer, but they'll spend less time in buses going down I-95. Their first foray into the state was successful, pounding host Francis Marion in the Pepsi Invitational. Up next: Catawba in Florence, Monday.

* USC Lancaster (Last week: 2-0. Overall: 7-0. Streak: Won 6) - The Lancers are trying to crack the top three among junior colleges in the state, but Florence-Darlington Tech, Spartanburg Methodist and USC Sumter have been on a different level most seasons, A quick start could help coach Nick Calhoun's team pick up some confidence as it tries to make the next step. Up next: at home against Pail D. Camp, Saturday.

Shiverin'

* Anderson (Last week: 1-3. Overall: 2-5. Streak: Lost 3) - A seven-game homestand to open the season hasn't resulted in a smooth start for the Trojans, who suffered a pair of one-run losses and allowed the winning runs to score in the ninth of another game. Maybe a game away will Anderson Memorial Stadium will change their luck. Up next: at Lander, Tuesday.
 
* Claflin (Last week: 0-3. Overall:  0-3. Streak: Lost 3) - The Panthers have been competitive in two of their first three games for first-year coach Scott Nestor, but are in need of offense.  They are batting .173 as a team. Up next: at home against Georgia Southwestern, Friday.

* Lander (Last week: 0-3. Overall: 1-5. Streak: Lost 5) - There's been little to write home about for the Bearcats after their season-opening win. Worse, they had to move last week's scheduled home series to Lincoln Memorial because of field/weather concerns and were swept. Up next: at home against Anderson, Tuesday.

* Limestone (Last week: 0-4. Overall: 3-4. Streak: Lost 4) - Week 2 as was as bad for the Saints as Week 1 was good. Two of the three losses in the weekend sweep by Emmanuel came after Limestone couldn't not protect a lead. The 11-inning loss in the series finale came after the Saints scored a run in the ninth only to have the Lions tie the score with two outs in the ninth. Up next: at home against Erskine, Tuesday.

* Southern Wesleyan (Last week: 0-3: Overall: 2-4. Streak: Lost 3) - The Warriors suffered a pair of close loses at home against Coker. The pitching has been very good, as a 3.40 ERA would indicate. But that hasn't been enough to compensate for a .206 batting average. Up next: at Newberry, Wednesday.

* Like electricity, technology is wonderful when it's working and a pain when it's not. I've counted at least four state schools who have been dealing with technical issues trying to post their box scores this season. Hopefully, the glitches will be worked out soon.