Baseball claims Rookie of the Year as five players honored by USA South

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon freshman Will Pharis was named USA South Rookie of the Year and three other Hawks were named first-team or second-team All-Conference on Wednesday.

Senior center fielder Trammell DeJarnett was named first-team and Pharis, senior pitcher Gavin Free and junior second baseman Jordan Freeman were named second-team All-Conference. Senior first baseman Tyler Blackwell was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.

In its first season as a member of the USA South, Huntingdon was 21-17 and finished third in the conference standings.

Pharis started in all 38 games this season for Huntingdon and was second on the team with a .306 batting average, 41 hits, 33 RBIs, 26 runs and three home runs and led the Hawks with nine doubles. He tied for fifth in the conference in RBIs and tied for sixth in home runs.

DeJarnett led Huntingdon with a .331 batting average, 45 hits, 37 runs and 13 stolen bases and was third on the team with 19 RBIs. He tied for the third most runs scored in the conference.

Freeman tied for the conference lead with five home runs and was fourth in the conference with 34 RBIs. He was third on Huntingdon's team with a .295 batting average, 39 hits and 25 runs.

Free, who was 5-5 this season, finished second in the conference with 76 strikeouts. His 2.84 ERA was the third best among conference pitchers with at least 70 innings. In two seasons at Huntingdon, Free finished with 148 strikeouts in 142 2/3 innings.

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: Jake Perkins, Ferrum

Rookie of the Year: Will Pharis, Huntingdon                

Rookie Pitcher of the Year: Dillon Weaver, Ferrum

Coach of the Year: Ryan Brittle, Ferrum