SAC Well Represented on ABCA All-South Baseball Team

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced its All-South Region team Tuesday, with The South Atlantic Conference placing 12 representatives on the squad, including the region's Player of the Year.

Six representatives made the All-Region First Team: Guy O'Connell, Tusculum; Ricky Lutrell, Carson-Newman; John Spencer, Wingate; Sherman Greer, Wingate; Kevin White, Presbyterian; Richard Barkley, Presbyterian.

O'Connell, the SAC Player of the Year, was also named the 2003 NCAA ABCA/Rawlings Division II South Region Baseball Player of the Year.

The six players named to the Second Team were: Matt Baker, Catawba; Zach Snyder, Catawba; Mike Calano, Tusculum; Robbie Bouman, Tusculum; Nathan Gravely, Carson-Newman; Ryan West, Carson-Newman.

O'Connell, a junior from Perth, Australia, hit .403 this season while establishing school records in hits (83), home runs (21), RBI (67), total bases (175) and slugging percentage (.850). He led the South Atlantic Conference in slugging percentage, on-base percentage (.488), doubles (19) and home runs. For his efforts, he was named this year's SAC Player of the Year. His 21 home runs are also tied for the most round-trippers this year in NCAA Division II.

Last week, O'Connell went 7-for-14 in three games as he led Tusculum to a third place showing at the NCAA II South Region Baseball Tournament in Lakeland, Fla. He posted a 4-for-4 effort in TC's opener against No. 2 Florida Southern College as he was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. O'Connell was named to the NCAA South Region All-Tournament Team. He was also tabbed to the SAC All-Tournament Team and was selected to the All-Conference First Team.

Calano finished second on the team in RBI as he posted 56 on the season, which was also third-best in the conference. Not bad considering the sophomore second baseman hit ninth in the TC batting order all season. Calano batted .340 on the year, including 10 doubles, a triple and nine home runs. The Suwanee, Ga. native was named to the All-SAC First Team while starting in all 55 games.

Calano has also shined in the classroom posting a 3.95 cumulative grade point average. He was named the 2003 South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year for Baseball and was recently selected to the Verizon Academic All-District IV College Division Baseball First Team.

Bouman, a junior shortstop from Sterling, Va. established three school records for the Pioneers. The 2003 All-SAC Second Team honoree set TC records in at-bats (225), runs scored (66) and defensive assists (167). Last month, he led Tusculum to the SAC Tournament Championship game for the first time in school history and was named to the All-Tournament squad. Bouman finished third on the team hitting .347 at the plate while leading the league in runs scored, plate appearances (249), at-bats and assists.

Tusculum College enjoyed one of its best diamond campaigns in school history posting a 34-21 tally sheet, tying for most wins in a season. TC's Regional berth was the school's first-ever NCAA post-season appearance since making the move to Division II in 1998.

Barkley, a 6-1, 175-lb starting pitcher, finishes his four-year career as one of the best pitchers in modern Blue Hose baseball history. The preseason ABCA All-American and All-SAC selection led the PC staff with a 10-3 record, 2.41 ERA, 99 strikeouts, 108.1 innings pitched, eight complete games, and two shutouts. This year he also set the single season mark for most wins, most strikeouts, and tied the record for most innings pitched in a season. Barkley finishes his career tied for third in most wins (23), second in complete games (15), second in innings pitched (302.1), tied for first in shutouts (5), and first in strikeouts (259) and ERA (3.29).

White, a 6-2, 180-lb center fielder, once again led the Blue Hose offense this season. The preseason ABCA All-American and All-SAC selection led PC hitters with a .397 batting average, 85 hits, 144 total bases, 56 runs, 50 RBI, and 13 homeruns. White now holds the career record for homeruns (36), batting average (.379), and slugging percentage (.615) in Blue Hose history as well as ranking fifth in runs (155), fourth in hits (243), second in total bases (408), and third in RBI (163).

The Presbyterian Blue Hose finished the season 27-28 overall and 12-8 in the South Atlantic Conference good for third overall. PC swept the SAC Baseball Tournament and won their first outright SAC Tournament Championship this season. The Blue Hose finished the season ranked third in the South Region and participated in the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament in Lakeland, FL where they advanced to the semifinals of the elimination bracket.

Luttrell (Knoxville, Tenn.), a senior, led the Eagles at the plate in 2003 as he batted .354 with 18 doubles, 15 homers and 69 RBIs. Luttrell had a slugging percentage of .693 and was 12-of-13 in stolen base attempts. He was a first-team All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) selection in 2003.

Gravley (Cartersville, Ga.) was named to the second team All-Region team. The sophomore outfielder had a .349 batting average this season with 10 doubles, 11 homers, 50 RBIs and a team-high seven triples. Gravley was named to the All-SAC team this season.

West (Urbana, Ohio) was a second team selection at pitcher. One of only two seniors on the Eagles' team this season, West posted a 7-1 record with a 3.90 earned run average. In 62.1 innings on the mound, West struck out 68 batters while only walking four. West was an All-SAC selection as well.

The Carson-Newman Eagles were 31-21 in 2003 and won their second consecutive SAC regular season championship.