Four SAC Baseball Players Named To NCBWA All-America Team

May 28, 2008

ELLENBURG, Wash. -- Four baseball players from the South Atlantic Conference have been named to the 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Division II All-America Team.

Selected to the first team were Carson-Newman pitcher Brett Hontz, Tusculum second baseman Maikol Gonzalez and Catawba outfielder David Thomas. Catawba outfielder Jerry Sands was selected to the third team. Tusculum's Boo Morrow was an honorable mention selection.

Brett Hontz

Maikol Gonzalez

Boo Morrow

David Thomas

Jerry Sands

Hontz, a Newton Square, Pennsylvania-native, led the Eagles to a school-record 43 wins, and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division II South Regional. He went 11-1 in 14 starts in his final season at Mossy Creek. The right-hander allowed only 29 earned runs on the year, while striking out 98. He held opponents to a .244 batting average and wrapped up his impressive final season with 2.37 earned run average.

The senior was named South Region Pitcher of the Year by Daktronics last week, as well as earning the honor on the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team and the NCBWA All-Region Team. He was also named second team ABCA/Rawlings All-American on Tuesday.

The 2008 South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year finished 6-0 in SAC play, while picking up two more non-conference wins against Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne, to finish 8-0 against SAC opponents. He earned SAC Pitcher of the Week honors three times, and lost only once, a 2-1 decision to USC-Aiken, who spent much of the year ranked in the top ten.

Carson-Newman finished the season ranked 29th in the Collegiate Baseball Division II Poll.

Maikol Gonzalez, Boo Morrow

Tusculum College's Maikol Gonzalez and Boo Morrow have been named to the 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Division II All-America Team announced officials Wednesday. Gonzalez was named as the First Team second baseman, while Morrow garnered honorable mention accolades as a starting pitcher.

Gonzalez, a senior from Maraca Ibo, Venezuela, earns his third All-American honor this season and returns to the NCBWA First Team for a second consecutive year.

Morrow, a junior right-hander from Lexington, Ky., becomes the 12th Pioneer in school history to earn All-America recognition. The 11th player was his older brother Dustin, who was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Baseball Team earlier this week.

Gonzalez established a new school record by hitting .468 this year, surpassing the previous best by Julio Velazquez in the 1994 campaign (.467). Gonzalez also broke the TC and South Atlantic Conference single-season record with his 103 hits this year. For his efforts, he was named the Daktronics South Region Player of the Year for a second straight season. The two-time All-SAC First Team honoree accounted for 21 doubles, seven triples, five home runs and a team-best 58 RBI. His 30 stolen bases in 2008 were also a new school record.

During his two-year career, Gonzalez established new TC record for batting average (.457), triples (21) and on-base percentage (.522). His batting average is currently ninth all-time in NCAA II history, while his triples tally is tied for 12th in the record book. In 2008 alone, he has earned All-America standing by the NCBWA, the American Baseball Coaches Association and the D-II College Sports Information Directors of America (Daktronics).

Morrow emerged as the ace to the Tusculum rotation in 2008. The Daktronics, ABCA and NCBWA All-Region First Team selection, posted a 7-0 record with a 2.00 earned run average. Morrow recorded 61 strikeouts and 20 walks in his 76.2 innings. The All-SAC First Team honoree has yet to suffer a loss in his career (11-0) and was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team.

The Pioneers posted a 41-15 record in 2008 and are currently ranked 30th in the nation. Tusculum advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year and the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Pioneers earned their way into the national postseason by winning the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

David Thomas, Jerry Sands

Outfielders David Thomas (Winston-Salem, NC/Ledford HS) and Jerry Sands (Clayton, NC/Smithfield-Selma HS) have been named to the 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Division II All-America Team. Thomas earned First Team All-America honors, while Sands was selected to the Third Team.

Thomas, a senior, currently leads Catawba with a .432 average and has connected on a career-high 20 home runs with 57 RBI. He also paces the team with 74 runs scored and has swiped 22 bases. Thomas was the 2008 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and is a three-time all-region performer.

Sands, a junior, has set a school record this season with 80 RBI and has hit 23 homers. He has also set a record by drawing 52 walks and ranks second on the team with 73 runs scored. Sands has made all-region in each of his three seasons at Catawba.

2008 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASEBALL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Mike Adams, Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Keith Hernandez, Emporia State (Kan.)

FIRST TEAM (5 SP due to ties in balloting)
Starting Pitcher - +++Mike Adams, Jr., Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
Starting Pitcher - Jim Fuller, So., Southern Connecticut State
Starting Pitcher - Brett Hontz, Sr., Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
Starting Pitcher - Korey Noles, Sr., Columbus State (Ga.)
Starting Pitcher - Ryan Schlecht, Sr., Mount Olive (N.C.)
Relief Pitcher - Justin Lamb, Sr., Valdosta State (Ga.)
Relief Pitcher - Anthony Perez, So., Tampa (Fla.)
Catcher - Keith Hernandez, Sr., Emporia State (Kan.)
First Base - +++Chad Jacobsen, Sr., South Carolina Aiken
Second Base - +Maikol Gonzalez, Sr., Tusculum (Tenn.)
Third Base - Rodney Rutherford, Sr., Columbus State (Ga.)
Shortstop - Jamie Nilsen, Sr., Central Washington
Outfield - Matt Cotellese, Jr., West Chester (Pa.)
Outfield - Mike Elkerson, Sr., Abilene Christian (Texas)
Outfield - David Thomas, Sr., Catawba (N.C.)
Designated Hitter/Utility Player - Dustin Walls, Sr., Incarnate Word (Texas)

SECOND TEAM (3 SP, 4 OF due to ties in balloting)
Starting Pitcher - Marquis Fleming, Sr., Cal State Stanislaus
Starting Pitcher - Matt Means, Sr., Sonoma State (Calif.)
Starting Pitcher - Steve Smith, Sr., Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
Relief Pitcher - +++Tyler Bishop, Sr., Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
Relief Pitcher - Chris Matlock, Jr., Central Missouri
Catcher - Jason Sherrer, Sr., Mount Olive (N.C.)
First Base - Ben Minard, So., Ashland (Ohio)
Second Base - Chas Anthony, So., Erskine (S.C.)
Third Base - Greyson Schram, So., Concord (W.Va.)
Shortstop - Randall Clay, Sr., Southeastern Oklahoma State
Outfield - Karl Derbacher, Jr., Southern Connecticut State
Outfield - John Long, Sr., Southern Arkansas
Outfield - Eric Shortell, Sr., Emporia State (Kan.)
Outfield - ++Chris Weimer, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha
Designated Hitter/Utility Player - +++ Matt Adams, So., Slippery Rock (Pa.)

THIRD TEAM (2 3B due to ties in balloting)
Starting Pitcher - Anthony Bass, Jr., Wayne State (Mich.)
Starting Pitcher - Nick Schumacher, Sr., Wayne State (Neb.)
Starting Pitcher - Clint Straka, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Starting Pitcher - ++Matt Wright, Jr., Shippensburg (Pa.)
Relief Pitcher - Eric Carmichael, So., West Chester (Pa.)
Relief Pitcher - Shaun Larsen, Jr., Southern Indiana
Catcher - Reece Gorman, Sr., Metro State (Colo.)
First Base - Ian Bridges, Jr., Sonoma State (Calif.)
Second Base - Derek Bowen, Jr., West Virginia Wesleyan
Third Base (tie) - Rob Dahlberg, Jr., West Alabama
Third Base (tie) - Gene Howard, Sr., Rollins (Fla.)
Shortstop - Mike Diaz, Jr., Southern Connecticut State
Outfield - Bryan Majors, Sr., Emporia State (Kan.)
Outfield - Chris Pacheco, Jr., Incarnate Word (Texas)
Outfield - Jerry Sands, Jr., Catawba (N.C.)
Designated Hitter/Utility Player - Scott Savastano, Jr., Franklin Pierce (N.H.)

HONORABLE MENTION
Starting Pitcher - Tyler Applehans, Jr., Emporia State (Kan.); Andre Benjamin, Jr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Jason Bowman, Jr., West Chester (Pa.); Mark Carey, Jr., Central Missouri; Blaine Cravens, Sr., Saint Joseph's (Ind.); Bobby Hernandez, Jr., Barry (Fla.); Chris Kessinger, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha; #Eric Loh, Sr., Bryant (R.I.); Matt McCarty, Jr., Shepherd (W.Va.); Boo Morrow, Jr., Tusculum (Tenn.); Peden Rucker, Sr., South Carolina Aiken; Scott Shimek, Jr., Saint Mary's (Texas).
Relief Pitcher - Zach Farry, Sr., Francis Marion (S.C.); Keith Noe, Sr., UC San Diego.
Catcher - Rickey Noland, Sr., Delta State (Miss.); Seth Paul, Sr., Indianapolis (Ind.).
First Base - Clay Calfee, Jr., Angelo State (Texas); Bryan Cook, Sr., Nova Southeastern (Fla.); Dusty Washburn, Jr., Fort Hays State (Kan.).
Second Base - Mike Baillargeon, Jr., Assumption (Mass.); Patrick Brady, So., Bellarmine (Ky.); Kyle Resser, Sr., Saint Cloud State (Minn.); #Clay Sartain, Jr., Delta State (Miss.).
Third Base - Adam Carolan, Sr., Missouri Western State; Kyle Hogue, Sr., Mesa State (Colo.); Jacob Petkac, So., Ashland (Ohio).
Shortstop - Ryan Giblin, Sr., Mansfield (Pa.); Jason Morales, Sr., North Carolina Pembroke; Evan Porter, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha; Matt Reimer, Sr., Saint Joseph's (Ind.); Chauncey Ward, Sr., Albany State (Ga.).
Outfield - Craig Brisson, So., North Georgia; Bo Darby, Fr., West Virginia State; Bryan Frew, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha; Justin Garber, Sr., Shippensburg (Pa.); Derek Hinke, Sr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Hunter Jobes, Sr., Delta State (Miss.); Jake Palmer, Sr., Metro State (Colo.); #Kevin Renaud, Sr., Franklin Pierce (N.H.); Alex Vertcnik, Jr., Mount Olive (N.C.); Reed Welker, Sr., Saginaw Valley State (Mich.); Shannon Wilkerson, So., Augusta State (Ga.); Josh Wilson, So., Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.).
Designated Hitter/Utility Player - Nathan Coggins, So., Albany State (Ga.); Dustin Koca, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha; Matt Miller, Sr., Mesa State (Colo.); #Drew Pare, Sr., West Chester (Pa.); Casey Robrahn, Jr., Grand Valley State (Mich.).

+ First team NCBWA Division II All-American in 2007 … ++ Second team NCBWA Division II All-American in 2007 … +++ Third team NCBWA Division II All-American in 2007 … # Honorable mention NCBWA Division II All-American in 2007