SAC baseball players garner regional and national attention

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Several South Atlantic baseball players earned regional and national honors following the 2011 campaign, with Anderson's Blake May, Carson-Newman's Cody Nix, Catawba's Chris Dula, Nick Lomascolo, Garrett Furr and JJ Jankowski and Wingate's Dodson McPherson and Brian Yeung all collecting postseason accolades.

May, a junior third baseman for the Trojans was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Gold Glove Team for his outstanding defensive effort on the diamond last season. The Largo, Fla., native led the South Atlantic Conference at the hot corner by recording a league-best .967 fielding percentage during the 2011 campaign. May committed just five errors while helping turn four double plays and starting all 50 games for the Trojans. On the offensive side, he was fifth on the squad with a .274 batting average.

Also earning a spot on the Southeast Region Gold Glove Team was Eagles' senior outfielder Cody Nix. Nix, who started 49 games for the Eagles, was the premier outfielder in the South Atlantic Conference this past season with a fielding percentage of 1.000 on 111 putouts. He finished with four assists.

May and Nix were also named to the 2011 SAC Gold Glove Team.

Dula and Lomascolo were named to All-Southeast Region Baseball teams by three organizations, while Furr and Jankowski were honored on two different teams. Dula was named first team by the ABCA, while Lomascolo was named first team by Daktronics.

Dula, who was a second team selection by Daktronics and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), hit .377 in his freshman year for the Indians. The third baseman also led the squad in hits (81), runs (52), RBI (62) and doubles (21). Lomascolo was named second team by the ABCA and the NCBWA. The sophomore lefty pitcher posted a league-high nine wins this season and posted a 2.78 ERA. Over 103 and two-thirds innings he allowed just 72 hits, while fanning 88.

Furr was named second team by the ABCA and to the third team by the NCBWA. The sophomore designated hitter batted .298 and led the team with a dozen home runs. He added 11 doubles among his 61 hits and drove in 56.

Jankowski, a junior pitcher, was a second-team pick by the ABCA and earned third-team honors from the NCBWA. He posted an 8-2 record and a 2.95 ERA over his 97 and two-thirds innings. He surrendered 82 hits while striking out 118 batters on the sweason.

Wingate University junior outfielder Dodson McPherson was named the Daktronics 2011 Southeast Region Player of the Year. He also earned first team All-Region honors from Daktronics and the ABCA. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung also earned All-Region honors from both organizations.

One of the eight finalists in the nation for the Tino Martinez Award, McPherson was the first Bulldog to earn Region Player of the Year honors since Darren Hayes in 1995. The 2011 SAC Player of the Year, McPherson led the league in hits (92), runs (65), homers (17), RBI (78), triples (five) and slugging percentage (.748). He finished second in the league in batting average (.407), total bases (167) and on-base percentage (.475). McPherson ranked in the top 10 nationally in hits (second), RBI (second), total bases (fourth), homers (fifth), runs (fifth) and slugging percentage (ninth).

The duo helped lead the Bulldogs to a 34-22 record, Food Lion SAC Tournament title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. Wingate's 36 conference wins over the past two years are the most in school history. McPherson was also named to the inaugural College Baseball Lineup Division II All-Star team. Yeung earned second team honors from the ABCA, while earning third team honors from Daktronics. He earned honorable mention accolades from the NCBWA.

McPherson's 78 RBI this season ranks sixth on the league's all-time single season charts, while his 167 total bases are good for ninth. His 92 hits are just outside the top 10 in league history. Of McPherson's 17 homers this season, 15 came during Wingate wins, while 67 of his 78 RBI also came during Wingate victories. Five of his homers were grand slams, which tied an NCAA record for a season. Four of his first six homers in the 2011 season were grand slams. He had seven two-run homers and three of the three-run variety, while hitting only two solo homers on the year.

McPherson hit for the cycle in Wingate's win at Anderson. He had an inside-the-park homer and grand slam in the regular season finale against Brevard, driving in six runs. McPherson blasted a game-tying grand slam against Newberry, helping Wingate rally for a 7-6 victory. His three-run homer in the final inning at LMU gave the Bulldogs a two-run victory.

Yeung led the nation with 26 doubles, while also leading the league and ranking third nationally with 170 total bases. He finished second in the conference with 16 homers and 68 RBI, while hitting .358 on the year. His .691 slugging percentage also ranked second in the conference, along with his four triples.

Yeung's second half spurt started against Lenoir-Rhyne University. With Wingate trailing by one with two outs and a runner on first in the ninth, Yeung blasted his second homer of the year, a walk-off, two-run shot to give the 'Dogs the dramatic victory. He followed with a homer and four RBI in the second game that afternoon against the Bears. Yeung hit a pair of homers in Wingate's victory at Anderson.