Five Conference Carolinas Baseball Teams Appear in NCBWA Preseason Regional Poll; 18 Players Named Preseason All-Region
PEMBROKE, N.C. – Five Conference Carolinas baseball teams appeared in the 2017 NCBWA Preseason Southeast Region poll, it was announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Belmont Abbey College checked in at No. 3, while University of Mount Olive earned the No. 4 spot. Erskine College was ranked No. 8, with Barton College and North Greenville University receiving two points and one point from voters, respectively.
In addition to the preseason regional poll, the 2017 Preseason NCBWA All-Southeast Region teams were also announced. 18 Conference Carolinas players were selected to the teams. See the full list below.
2017 Preseason NCBWA Southeast Region Poll
1. USC Aiken
2. Catawba (N.C.)
3. Belmont Abbey (N.C.)
4. Mount Olive (N.C.)
5. Lander (S.C.)
6. Columbus State (Ga.)
7. North Georgia
8. Erskine (S.C.)
9. Tusculum (Tenn.)
10. UNC Pembroke
Also receiving votes: Newberry, S.C. 15 points; Georgia College 14 points; Carson-Newman, Tenn. 8 points; Barton College, N.C. 2 points; Flagler, Fla. 2 points; Augusta College, Ga. 1 point; North Greenville, S.C. 1 point.
2017 Preseason All-Southeast Region Team
First Team
Starting Pitcher: Ethan Elliott, Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.); Dylan Ward, Barton College (N.C.); Bruce Zimmerman, Mount Olive (N.C.)
Relief Pitcher: Bryan Blanton, Catawba College (N.C.)
Catcher: Andrew Webster, Barton College (N.C.)
First Base: Henry Faunce, Erskine (S.C.)
Second Base: Zach Finchum, Tusculum (Tenn.)
Third Base: Derek Olenchuck, Newberry (S.C.)
Shortstop: Colin Rosenbaum, Belmont Abbey (N.C.)
Outfield: Nick Beinlich, Belmont Abbey (N.C.); Garrett Lowery, Limestone (S.C.); Clint Hardy, Augusta (Ga.)
Designated Hitter: Zach Moon, USC-Aiken
Utility: Brooks Kennedy, Francis Marion (S.C.)
Honorable Mention
Starting Pitcher: Alex Calvert, Erskine (S.C.); Brighton Hudson, Mount Olive (N.C.); Brandon Koehler, Columbus State (Ga.); Blake Waldren, Belmont Abbey (N.C.)
First Base: Nathaniel Maggio, North Greenville (S.C.)
Second Base: Derek Perry, Pfeiffer (N.C.)
Third Base: Nick Nunziato, Belmont Abbey (N.C.); Zach Scudder, Pfeiffer (N.C.)
Shortstop: Brandon Benson, Georgia College; Calvin Hawke, Barton College (N.C.)
Outfield: Tyler Garrett, Barton College (N.C.); Logan Mattix, Georgia College; Mitchell Price, USC-Aiken; Daymon Totherow, Newberry (S.C.); Chase Watts, Erskine (S.C.)
Designated Hitter: Bradley Brown, Wingate (N.C.); Chris Rave, Erskine (S.C.)
Utility: Zach Almond, Catawba College (N.C.)
Conference Carolinas is a NCAA Division II athletics conference made up of 12 teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. These institutions consist of: Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Converse College, Emmanuel College, Erskine College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, University of Mount Olive, North Greenville University, Pfeiffer University, and Southern Wesleyan University. Emmanuel College is currently completing the NCAA Membership Process and will be fully competing in league championships in the near future.