The NCAA released its final college baseball statistics, and this area is well represented in several categories.

Josh Hoffpauir of Vidalia, La., finished eighth in the nation among Division I schools in the toughest to strike out category.

Hoffpauir, a senior at Southern Miss, signed a contract with the Oakland A’s and is currently playing for the Scottsdale A’s in the Rookie League.

Hoffpauir played in 56 games, batted 243 times and struck out only nine times, for a 27.0 strike-out-per-at-bat average.

Hoffpauir was batting at about the .300 mark for Scottsdale, but is currently sidelined with an injured foot. He is expected back into action soon.

Devontay Carter of Alcorn was ninth with four strikeouts in 102 at bats for a 25.5 average.

Alcorn had several games rained out, which left the Braves out when it came to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament.

Because they did not play the required number of SWAC games, the Braves were ruled ineligible to participate, even though they won the Western Division.

Alcorn’s&160;Dario Rosa, who has as quick a bat as anyone I’ve seen play at Alcorn, finished third in the nation in batting with a .452 average.

Rosa played in 29 games as a senior, had 104 at bats and 47 hits.

Rosa is currently looking around hoping to get picked up by a team. You can bet that day will be coming soon.

Jermaine Harrison of Alabama State finished fourth in batting with a .442 average.

Patrick Hollander of Lehigh was the top batter with a .486 average.

Grambling’s Chris Cottonham was tops in runs batted in with 87 over 50 games, or a 1.74 average.

Todd Faulkner of Auburn was second at 1.69, while Brad Cresse of national champion LSU was third with 106 through 69 games.

Cresse was third in home runs with 30 for a 0.43 average. His 30 was tops in the nation.

T.J. Soto of Louisiana Tech was seventh in home runs with 21.

Nikki Moses of Southern Mississippi was tied for first in triples with eight through 44 games.

Shane Kelly was ninth with 0.13 per game.

Brad Hawpe of LSU was fourth in doubles with 0.52, one behind Frank Corr of Stetson, Mike Cerminaro of Wagner and Donny Sevieri of New Mexico at. 0.53.

Alcorn’s Carter was third in runs scored with 1.41 a game.

LSU’s Brian Tallet was third among most victories by a pitcher with 15. Scott Donmann of Louisiana-Lafayette was tied for eighth with 13.

LSU finished sixth as a team in batting with a .340 average. Stony Brook was tops with a .347 average.

ULL was fifth in team pitching with a 3.31 earned run average, while Louisiana-Monroe was 14th with a 3.80 ERA.

If Smoke Laval, who was recently named to replace LSU head coach Skip Bertman after next season, brings the type of pitching to LSU he had at ULM, look out. The Tiger dynasty will continue.

LSU was fourth in scoring with 9.45 runs a game.

By the way, South Carolina, which had the best record in the nation at 56-10, also boasts of the the coach and player of the year according to Baseball America.

Gamecock cach Ray Tanner and pitcher Kip Bouknight received those honors.

South Carolina was beaten by Louisiana Lafayette in the Super Regionals.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.