Why Coastal Carolina College Baseball is Coming for the Power 10 in 2026
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have established themselves as a worthy opponent these past couple of weeks in college baseball. In the 2025 season, they went 56-13, took the Sun Belt Conference title, and reached the Men’s College World Series Final. The Chanticleers have already entered 2026 as a national runner-up with high expectations. Head coach Kevin Schnall returns with postseason expectations for his power program. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are becoming a national threat as time goes on, and opposing teams should be wary of them in June.
Blake Barthol: The Steady Force in the Infield
At the center of the offense is senior second baseman Blake Barthol. He is the anchor of Coastal Carolina’s infield and the most dependable player on the roster. Barthol earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors in 2024 and was named to the 2026 Perfect Game Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team heading into this season. Last year, he slashed a .274/.387/.468 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs, making him one of only two Chanticleers to reach double-digit home runs. With All-American catcher Caden Bodine now in the Baltimore Orioles organization, The Power-Hitting Second Baseman is now the leader of this lineup and has proven this season that his trust is well earned.
Walker Mitchell: Delivering in the Clutch
Junior infielder Walker Mitchell has also been a clutch performer on this roster through the early portion of the 2026 college baseball season. In 2025, Mitchell appeared in 65 games with 63 starts, batting .270 with 45 RBIs and an impressive .443 on-base percentage. He has consistently carried this momentum forward, currently slashing .312 on the season, and his RBI single in the top of the ninth inning of Game Two against Arkansas last weekend closed the series for Coastal Carolina. His ability to deliver pressure in high-leverage situations makes him a valuable piece in the lineup heading into the final stretch of conference play.
Cameron Flukey: The Ace Setting the Tone
On the mound, the Chanticleers are led by junior right-hander Cameron Flukey, who entered 2026 as one of the most decorated pitchers in college baseball. Flukey was named the Baseball America and Perfect Game Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Additionally, he earned preseason First Team All-American recognition from both outlets, an honor bestowed on only two other players in the country. In 2025, the Preseason Pitcher of the Year Favorite went 7-2 with a 3.19 ERA across 101.2 innings, striking out 118 batters while limiting opponents to a .209 batting average. With two key starters gone from last year's staff, the All-American Right-Hander now dominates the top of the rotation, which is why the Chanticleers remain a feared pitching team in college baseball.
Series Preview: Chanticleers Look to Defend Home Turf
This upcoming weekend, Coastal Carolina hosts the Georgia State Panthers in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. The Georgia State Panthers enter at 14-7 with an RPI of 129, making them a significant underdog against the Chanticleers, who are unbeatable at home. I expect Flukey to take charge of the ball to set the tone for the rest of the series. With elite relievers like Dominick Carbone poised to shut down opponents, the Chanticleers are doing more than riding last year's momentum and are currently building a foundation to last.
