Gonzalez named Rookie Pitcher of the Year, 5 Hawks earn All-Conference

By Wesley Lyle

Sports Information Director

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Freshman Jared Gonzalez was named USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Year and a total of five Huntingdon players earned All-Conference honors with the release of the All-Conference baseball team on Thursday.

Senior third baseman Jordan Freeman and junior outfielder Anthony Spivey were named first-team All-Conference and junior outfielders Patrick Kucera and Alec Raley were named second-team All-Conference.

In addition to being Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Gonzalez was also an honorable mention selection. Senior Victor Taylor was named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship team.

In its second season as a member of the USA South, Huntingdon was 22-8 in the conference and finished as the conference runner-up.

Gonzalez made 11 appearances on the mound, including nine starts, as a freshman and finished with a 7-2 record, 4.98 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings. Gonzalez ranks third in the USA South in total wins this season and tied for first in the USA South in conference wins. He led Huntingdon in strikeouts and innings pitched this season.

Freeman, who was a second-team All-Conference second baseman as a junior, started in all 39 games this season. He batted .303 (50-for-165) with 43 RBIs, 41 runs, 14 doubles and a .552 slugging percentage. Freeman, who tied for the USA South lead in home runs as a junior, led the conference with nine home runs this season. He ranked fourth in RBIs, tied for fifth in runs and doubles and was seventh in slugging percentage.

Spivey started in 36 games and led the Hawks with a .380 batting average (54-for-142), 46 RBIs and a .613 slugging percentage. He tied for first on the team in hits, was second on the team with seven home runs and fourth with 29 runs scored. He was second in the USA South in slugging percentage, tied for second in RBIs and ranked third in home runs.

Kucera started in all 39 games and batted .313 (45-for-144) with 48 runs, 19 RBIs, eight doubles, 19 stolen bases and a .487 on-base percentage. He drew a Division III-high 35 walks and his 48 runs were second in the USA South and tied for seventh in Division III. Kucera was second in the conference in stolen bases and fourth in on-base percentage.

In 39 starts this season, Raley batted .325 (54-for-166) with 37 RBIs, 33 runs, seven doubles and a .390 on-base percentage. He tied for the Huntingdon lead in hits, was second on the team in batting average, third in RBIs and runs and fourth in doubles and on-base percentage.

Maryville senior shortstop Nick Dean was named USA South Player of the Year for a second straight season and Methodist pitcher Josh Howard was named Pitcher of the Year. Covenant's Caleb Bloye earned Rookie of the Year honors and Methodist's Tom Austin was recognized as the Coach of the Year.

The complete All-Conference awards are listed below.

USA South All-Conference Baseball Awards

Player of the Year: Nick Dean, Maryville

Pitcher of the Year: Josh Howard, Methodist

Rookie of the Year: Caleb Bloye, Covenant          

Rookie Pitcher of the Year: Jared Gonzalez, Huntingdon

Coach of the Year: Tom Austin, Methodist

First Team

1B - Timothy Coston, Averett
2B - Will Skidmore, Piedmont
3B - Jordan Freeman, Huntingdon
SS - Nick Dean, Maryville
C - Chris Power, Methodist
DH/Util. - Ray Lanners, Methodist
OF - Adam Duncan, Ferrum
OF - Evan Gresham, Piedmont
OF - Anthony Spivey, Huntingdon
SP - Josh Howard, Methodist
SP - Travis Johnson, Methodist
RP - Josh Thomas, Piedmont

Second Team

1B - Zack Blonder, Maryville
2B - Matt Reynolds, Ferrum
3B - Kevin Alvarez, Averett
SS - Ciro Norzagaray, N.C. Wesleyan
C - Hank Parsley, Ferrum
DH/Util. - Taylor Davis, Averett
OF - Scott Gillespie, Covenant
OF - Patrick Kucera, Huntingdon
OF - Alec Raley, Huntingdon
SP - Taylor Davis, Averett
SP - Jake Perkins, Ferrum
RP - Tyler Hopkins, Maryville

Honorable Mention

1B - Matt Jack, Methodist
2B - John McDermott, Maryville
3B - Michael Barnes, Piedmont
SS - Jordan Powell, Greensboro
C - Nic Futrell, Averett
OF - Justin Disanto, N.C. Wesleyan
OF - Logan Jenkins, Maryville
OF - Alex Rodriguez, Methodist
SP - Jared Gonzalez, Huntingdon

Sportsmanship

Jeff Younkins, Averett
Will Cleland, Covenant
Hank Parsley, Ferrum
Kristopher Peeden, Greensboro
Victor Taylor, Huntingdon
Josh Bricker, LaGrange
Jacob Frost, Maryville
Pete Wildeboer, Methodist
Will Graves, N.C. Wesleyan
Tyler Marcinko, Piedmont
JT Howington, William Peace