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2013 FURMAN UNIVERSITY p BASEBALL J JEFF WHITFIELD, Assistant Coach eff Whitfield is now in his sixth season as an assistant coach with Furman's baseball program. In addition to coaching the squad's catchers and hitters, he also serves as recruiting coordinator. A three-year starter and all-region catcher at Anderson's T.L. Hanna High School, Whitfield attended Lander University in Greenwood, where he started in 190 games for the Senators over four seasons and served as team captain in 2004. A four-time Peach Belt Conference Academic Team selection, he was hit by pitch an NCAA Division II record 45 times during his career. Holder of bachelor of science degrees from Lander in exer- M Assistant Coaches cise studies and physical eduction, he played one year of professional ball with the Yuma Scorpions, an independent team in the Golden Baseball League in Arizona and California. After returning to the Upstate, he has held a number of teaching and coaching positions, including instructor at the Ballpark of Anderson, assistant coach at Anderson University, and assistant coach at Dorman High School. He has also coached the Upstate Mavericks 18U and 17U. A native of Anderson, Whifield, is married to Walterboro, S.C., native Kristen McLeod, a nurse at Greer Memorial Hospital. The couple have a daughter, Kylie, and are expecting their second child this summer. MIKE RANSON, Assistant Coach ike Ranson joined the Furman coaching staff last summer as pitching coach after serving two seasons as pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of Delaware. At Delaware, Ranson helped guide the Blue Hens to winning campaigns, going 27-26 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in 2011 before posting a 31-27 mark and third place finish in 2012 en route to a championship game appearance. Two Blue Hen pitchers earned all-conference scrolls, and another, senior Eric Young, collected CAA All-Tournament honors. Prior to going to Delaware, Ranson spent four seasons (200710) at Division II Limestone (S.C.) College. All told 13, of his recruits at Limestone went on to earn all-conference honors, including Joe Maloney, a 10th round draft selection of the Texas Rangers in 2011. He served as pitching coach at Wingate (N.C.) University in 2006. Ranson began his coaching career at Lynchburg (Va.) College, and while there helped the 2004 squad pace the nation in batting average (.380) and runs scored (10.8). In all Lynchburg had four All-Americans, six all-region, and 11 all-conference selections in his two seasons. Ranson enjoyed a stellar playing career at Lynchburg in 2003, tying the record for wins (23) and ranking high in innings pitched (313), strikeouts (250), single-season strikeouts (92) and innings pitched (91). He captured team rookie of the year honors in 2000 and squad pitcher of the year laurels his junior and senior seasons. He completed his master's in education from Lynchburg. The young coach boasts summer ball coaching experience with the Cal Ripken, Valley, and Coastal Plains Leagues. He served as pitching coach of the Fauquier Gators in the Clark Griffith League from 2004-06, twice directing staffs to league best ERAs, and later coached the Valley League Harrisonburg Turks to a league best 2.37 ERA. In 2009 he helped guide the Forest City Owls to a 51-9 record, CPL title, and No. 1 ranking by Perfect Game. The next year the Owls another CPL crown with a 43-21 record and No. 4 ranking. A native of Bristol, Tenn., Ranson played high school ball in Columbus, Ohio. He married the former Kelly Henley of Monroe, N.C., on Jan. 19, 2013. ZACH BROWN, Assistant Coach A local product sporting strong state, region, and Southern Conference ties, Zach Brown joined the Furman staff last summer as an assistant coach. Brown starred as a pitcher and position player at nearby Berea High School and in 2003 was named South Carolina senior player of the year after leading the state with 13 home runs and his squad to an Upper State runner-up finish. He continued his baseball career at The Citadel, where he was a member of the Bulldogs' 2004 SoCon championship squad, recorded over 200 hits, and earned first team All-SoCon honors as a first baseman in 2007, his senior year. He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 27th round of the 2007 Major League Draft and played two seasons of professional ball. F Brown returned to The Citadel as a volunteer assistant coach for 2010 & 11, helping the Bulldogs to a league title and NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year on staff. He has also coached the 16U Upstate Mavericks and worked as an associate scout with the Boston Red Sox. This past fall Brown was named head coach of the Coastal Plains League's Thomasville HiToms — a club he starred for as a player in 2005 & '06 as a two-time CPL All-Star while leading the 2005 squad to a Western Division title and 2006 team to a CPL Petit Cup. That season he led the CPL in total bases (113) and finished second in doubles (12), home runs (12), and RBI (44), and third in slugging percentage (.557). He was also named to the CPL's All-Decade Team. FRANK GAMBLE, Director of Baseball Operations rank Gamble, one of the winningest high school baseball coaches in Ohio history, is entering his second season at Furman and first as director of baseball operations. Gamble coached prep ball for 39 years in the Buckeye state, including 22 seasons at Perry High School, where he mentored first baseman Aaron Thompkins, who in 2011 hit a team leading .348 and earned All-Southern Conference honors for Furman. In addition, Thompkins set a new Paladin career fielding standard for first baseman, registering a .993 clip and committing only seven errors in 991 total chances. Counting his tenure at Perry and 17 years as head coach at Tuslaw High School, he won over 600 games. Over 50 of his players went on to play at the collegiate level. In addition to coaching, Gamble served Ohip prep baseball in many capacities, including president of the Ohio Baseball Coaches Association, game director of the All-Ohio Series, state clinic director, and as a consultant to the OSAA for the state baseball board of directors. He graduated from Fairless (Ohio) High School, where he lettered in football and baseball. He went on to Ashland College, where he graduated with a teaching degree in sociology and psychology. His two sons, Bill and Brian, are also prep head baseball coaches in Ohio, with Bill heading up the program at Jackson High School and Brian at Sandy Valley. 11