Newberry's Herring Named SAC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Newberry's Ben Herring has been named the South Atlantic Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Herring, a senior from Hopkins, S.C. graduated from Newberry with a 3.92 GPA in international studies. A CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2017 and a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, Herring is a member of Newberry's Summerland Honors College and is a Bachman Honor Society member. He received the 2018 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award at Newberry and was the recipient of the Newberry College Investment Scholarship.

"I'm extremely happy for Ben and don't think you could find a more deserving individual for this award," said Newberry head baseball coach Russell Triplett.  "Ben is a true example of all that embodies a scholar-athlete.  He's had a tremendous baseball career while accomplishing even more off the field.  We're thankful for the positive impact he's had on Newberry College and our baseball program."   

On the field, Herring was a First Team All-SAC selection, a ECAC All-Star and a All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention pick in 2017. In 2018 he was elected team captain, was a preseason All-SAC and All-Southeast Region selection and finished the year batting .314 with nine doubles, two home runs, 26 RBI, 25 runs scored and 11 stolen bases.

In addition to his on the field accolades, Herring was extrememly active off the field. He served as Newberry's Student Government Association president for 2017-18 and was the 2018 student commencement speaker at Newberry. He was awarded the Muller Center Research Fellowship, which allowed him to spend a month studying abroad in Ecuador. There he researched strategic management with non-government organizations. Herring also spent time volunteering at the Harvest Hope Food Bank, working as an instructor at the Newberry Youth Baseball Camp and serving as a tutor with the Newberry Elementary School's "Spanish Academy".

Other Softball Nominees

Zac Brown, Mars Hill
Mitch McCain, Tusculum

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