Rising senior Branfy Arias needs one more stolen base to set new single-season and career records in the Coastal Plains League.

Branfy Arias ties Coastal Plains League steals record

FLORENCE, S.C. --- Tusculum College’s Branfy Arias, a rising senior on the three-time South Atlantic Conference champion Pioneer baseball team, made Coastal Plains League history on Saturday night, recording his 31st stolen base of the season to tie former Peninsula standout Eddie Van Es’ career record of 58 thefts.

Arias, a native of La Romana, D.R., swiped four bags in his debut campaign with the Pioneers last season, posting a .328 on-base percentage while hitting a home run and tallying 14 RBI. The 5-10, 190-pound utility man has posted an impressive season with the CPL’s Columbia Blowfish this summer, swiping 31 bases in 39 attempts to lead the team. Arias has also been a major influence at the plate for the Blowfish, driving in a team-high 25 runs in 39 games.

With his stolen base on Saturday, Arias tied both the CPL’s single-season and career marks, while the Blowfish also tied a CPL single-season record with their 144 theft as a team. Arias and the Blowfish will get their first opportunity to write their respective names atop the Coastal Plains record book on Wednesday, July 21 when Columbia takes on Morehead City Marlins at its home ballpark.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of 10 colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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