GSC Announces 2011 Baseball All-Conference Teams
Birmingham, AL—Gulf South Conference East Division members West Florida and North Alabama led the way on the 2011 All-Conference Baseball Team.
Division champion UWF showed why it enters the post-season ranked No. 1 in the nation and in the South Region, placing a school-best seven standouts on the All-GSC First Team. The Argonauts finished with nine overall members, but UNA led the overall count with 10 honorees (four First Team). Southern Arkansas posted the second-most First Teamers with five. Harding and SAU each placed seven overall members.
INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Senior outfielder Greg Pron made school history by becoming West Florida’s first-ever East Division Player of the Year since UWF joined the GSC in 1995. The two-time GSC Player of the Week enters the post-season ranked second in the league in batting average (.440) and total bases (121) and third in slugging percentage (.720), hits (74) and RBI (55).
North Alabama shortstop Josh Carpenter claimed UNA’s second straight East Division Freshman of the Year laurel. Carpenter is a one-time GSC Player of the Week. He saw action in 39 of the Lions’ 44 regular-season contests and ranks second on the team in batting average (.377).
Arkansas Tech swept West Division individual honors for the first time in school history. Senior outfielder Matt Johnson became the first-ever ATU player to be named West Division Player of the Year since the Wonder Boys joined the league in 1996. The Grand Saline, TX native enters this week’s GSC Tournament leading the nation in runs per game (1.6) and the GSC in batting average (.465), slugging percentage (.737), runs scored (72), hits (92) and total bases (146).
Starting pitcher Danny Parker completed ATU’s sweep by claiming the West Division Freshman of the Year award. The Pottsville, AR native is the first Wonder Boy to take home the honor since 2003. Parker is tied for ninth in the Conference in victories (seven). He also leads ATU in innings pitched (55.0) and is second in strikeouts (39).
EAST ALL-GSC TEAM
The All-GSC East Division Team is headlined by four returning First Team members and six unanimous selections. UNA catcher Dale Ricketts, West Alabama designated hitter Brian Simone and UWF outfielder Dustin Lawley and starting pitcher Daniel Vargas-Vila return from 2010. Simone leads the unanimous choices which also include West Florida shortstop Brandon Brewer, outfielder Greg Pron and starting pitcher Jason Postill, Alabama-Huntsville outfield Eric Deese and North Alabama starting pitcher Trey Mitchell.
Pron makes the jump from the 2010 and 2009 Second Teams. Mitchell and Postill are 2010 Second Teamers, while Brewer made the 2009 Second Team.
North Alabama landed the most players on the First and Second Teams with 10, including four First Team selections. West Florida was second (nine), but seven Argonauts made the First Team. West Alabama posted five overall honorees, followed by Alabama-Huntsville (three), West Georgia (three) and Valdosta State (two).
WEST ALL-GSC TEAM
The All-GSC West Division Team is highlighted by Delta State outfield Michael Neimann who became the 31st all-time three-time First Team selection. Arkansas Tech outfielder Matt Johnson and Southern Arkansas third baseman Logan Williams return from last year’s First Team. Johnson is also a unanimous selection along with DSU starting pitcher Josh Branstetter and SAU starter Dan Bream.
Henderson State designated hitter Gip Hendrix joins Bream by vaulting from last year’s Second Team. Arkansas-Monticello outfield Wayne Hawkins is the first Boll Weevil to record First Team accolades since 2006. HU starting pitcher Logan Holthaus is the lone sophomore on the West or East Division First Teams.
Southern Arkansas and Harding posted seven overall standouts on the First and Second Teams, followed by Arkansas Tech’s six. SAU claimed a school-best five First Teamers, while Delta State and Harding added three. DSU collected five overall winners, followed by Ouachita Baptist (three), Arkansas-Monticello (two) and Henderson State (two).
2011 ALL-GSC BASEBALL FIRST TEAM
|
EAST DIVISION
|
|
POS
|
NAME
|
SCHOOL
|
YEAR
|
HT
|
WT
|
B/T
|
HOMETOWN
|
|
C
|
!%Dale Ricketts
|
UNA
|
SR
|
6-4
|
210
|
R/R
|
Lara, Australia
|
|
1B
|
Grant Debruin
|
UAH
|
JR
|
6-3
|
235
|
R/R
|
Boaz, AL
|
|
1B
|
Kevin Deese
|
UWA
|
SR
|
6-4
|
220
|
L/R
|
Fosters, AL
|
|
2B
|
Stuart Drew
|
UWG
|
JR
|
5-9
|
162
|
R/R
|
Douglas, GA
|
|
2B
|
*Michael Schmidt
|
UNA
|
JR
|
5-9
|
150
|
L/R
|
Powder Springs, GA
|
|
3B
|
J.P. LaMunyon
|
UNA
|
JR
|
5-11
|
190
|
R/R
|
Leawood, KS
|
|
SS
|
%Brandon Brewer
|
UWF
|
SR
|
5-9
|
170
|
L/R
|
Apopka, FL
|
|
DH
|
!%Brian Simone
|
UWA
|
SR
|
5-10
|
185
|
L/R
|
Amherstburg, Ontario
|
|
OF
|
Eric Deese
|
UAH
|
JR
|
6-2
|
180
|
R/R
|
Tuscaloosa, AL
|
|
OF
|
John Willner
|
VSU
|
SR
|
6-2
|
180
|
R/R
|
Regina, Saskatchewan
|
|
OF
|
Ladarrius Cole
|
UWA
|
JR
|
5-9
|
170
|
L/L
|
Shannon, MS
|
|
OF
|
#%Greg Pron
|
UWF
|
SR
|
6-6
|
195
|
R/R
|
Daphne, AL
|
|
OF
|
!Dustin Lawley
|
UWF
|
SR
|
6-1
|
190
|
R/R
|
Bessemer, AL
|
|
SP
|
#Trey Mitchell
|
UNA
|
SR
|
6-3
|
185
|
R/R
|
Florence, AL
|
|
SP
|
Jeb Huber
|
UWA
|
JR
|
5-10
|
165
|
L/L
|
Ponchatoula, LA
|
|
SP
|
#Jason Postill
|
UWF
|
SR
|
6-0
|
185
|
R/R
|
Orlando, FL
|
|
SP
|
!Daniel Vargas-Vila
|
UWF
|
SR
|
6-1
|
190
|
R/R
|
Jacksonville, FL
|
|
SP
|
Ben Hawkins
|
UWF
|
JR
|
6-0
|
180
|
L/L
|
Roma, GA
|
|
SP
|
Jarod Slaven
|
UWG
|
SR
|
6-3
|
192
|
R/R
|
Suwanee, GA
|
|
RP
|
Shane Waller
|
UWF
|
SR
|
6-0
|
195
|
R/R
|
Bryceville, FL
|
|
East Division Player of the Year—Greg Pron, West Florida
|
|
East Division Freshman of the Year—Josh Carpenter, North Alabama, SS
|
|
|
|
WEST DIVISION
|
|
POS
|
NAME
|
SCHOOL
|
YEAR
|
HT
|
WT
|
B/T
|
HOMETOWN
|
|
C
|
Brandon Choate
|
SAU
|
SR
|
6-0
|
205
|
R/R
|
Hooks, TX
|
|
1B
|
Kellen Bozeman
|
DSU
|
SR
|
6-2
|
210
|
R/R
|
Baton Rouge, LA
|
|
2B
|
Josh Riley
|
ATU
|
SR
|
6-1
|
197
|
R/R
|
Sulphur Springs, TX
|
|
2B
|
*Chase Presley
|
HU
|
JR
|
5-11
|
180
|
R/R
|
Jackson, TN
|
|
3B
|
!Logan Williams
|
SAU
|
SR
|
6-1
|
215
|
R/R
|
Damascus, AR
|
|
SS
|
Trey Buck
|
SAU
|
JR
|
5-7
|
160
|
R/R
|
Cosby, TX
|
|
DH
|
#Gip Hendrix
|
HSU
|
SR
|
6-1
|
200
|
R/R
|
Haughton, LA
|
|
OF
|
Wayne Hawkins
|
UAM
|
JR
|
6-0
|
205
|
L/L
|
Memphis, TN
|
|
OF
|
!Matt Johnson
|
ATU
|
SR
|
6-1
|
195
|
R/R
|
Grand Saline, TX
|
|
OF
|
!$Michael Niemann
|
DSU
|
SR
|
5-10
|
195
|
L/L
|
Yelm, WA
|
|
OF
|
Trent Kinnear
|
HU
|
SR
|
6-0
|
185
|
R/R
|
Tulsa, OK
|
|
SP
|
Josh Branstetter
|
DSU
|
SR
|
5-11
|
186
|
R/R
|
Pensacola, FL
|
|
SP
|
Logan Holthaus
|
HU
|
SO
|
6-0
|
200
|
R/R
|
Winona, MO
|
|
SP
|
Kolby Moore
|
OBU
|
SR
|
6-2
|
200
|
L/L
|
Indianola, IA
|
|
SP
|
#Dan Bream
|
SAU
|
SR
|
6-6
|
185
|
R/R
|
Coldwater, MI
|
|
RP
|
Doug Shields
|
SAU
|
JR
|
6-1
|
160
|
R/R
|
Mesquite, TX
|
|
West Division Player of the Year—Matt Johnson, Arkansas Tech
|
|
West Division Freshman of the Year—Danny Parker, Arkansas Tech, SP
|
|
|
|
!—2010 First Team All-GSC selection
|
#—2010 Second Team All-GSC selection
|
|
$—2009 First Team All-GSC selection
|
%—2009 Second Team All-GSC selection
|
|
Unanimous Selections in BOLD
|
*—Voted to team as next highest infielders
|
2011 ALL-GSC BASEBALL SECOND TEAM
|
EAST DIVISION
|
|
POS
|
NAME
|
SCHOOL
|
YEAR
|
HT
|
WT
|
B/T
|
HOMETOWN
|
|
C
|
Christian Glisson
|
VSU
|
JR
|
5-10
|
202
|
L/R
|
Hahira, GA
|
|
C
|
!%Tyler Hastings
|
UWF
|
SR
|
5-11
|
195
|
R/R
|
Valparaiso, FL
|
|
1B
|
Josh Cyr
|
UNA
|
SO
|
6-1
|
250
|
R/R
|
Huntsville, AL
|
|
1B
|
Andy Marinelli
|
UWG
|
JR
|
6-0
|
200
|
R/R
|
Woodstock, GA
|
|
3B
|
#Jordan Parker
|
UAH
|
SR
|
5-10
|
175
|
L/R
|
Hartselle, AL
|
|
3B
|
Josh Huggins
|
UWF
|
JR
|
6-0
|
212
|
R/R
|
Bay Minette, AL
|
|
SS
|
Josh Carpenter
|
UNA
|
FR
|
6-0
|
170
|
R/R
|
Harvest, AL
|
|
DH
|
Jake Sloan
|
UNA
|
JR
|
6-2
|
225
|
L/R
|
Amory, MS
|
|
OF
|
Jared Mothershed
|
UNA
|
SR
|
5-9
|
170
|
R/R
|
Tuscumbia, AL
|
|
SP
|
Chad Boughner
|
UNA
|
SO
|
6-1
|
160
|
R/R
|
Florence, AL
|
|
RP
|
Casey Jones
|
UNA
|
SR
|
6-5
|
195
|
R/R
|
Scottsboro, AL
|
|
RP
|
#%^Brian Burgess
|
UWA
|
SR
|
6-0
|
190
|
R/R
|
Huntsville, AL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEST DIVISION
|
|
POS
|
NAME
|
SCHOOL
|
YEAR
|
HT
|
WT
|
B/T
|
HOMETOWN
|
|
C
|
Patrick Taylor
|
DSU
|
SR
|
6-0
|
212
|
R/R
|
Arab, AL
|
|
1B
|
%Brock Green
|
OBU
|
JR
|
6-2
|
195
|
L/R
|
Hot Springs, AR
|
|
3B
|
!Jason Nappi
|
HU
|
SR
|
6-0
|
205
|
R/R
|
Birmingham, AL
|
|
SS
|
Chris Reese
|
ATU
|
JR
|
5-1
|
180
|
R/R
|
Gilbert, AZ
|
|
DH
|
Nate Wilder
|
ATU
|
JR
|
6-1
|
200
|
L/R
|
Lincoln, NE
|
|
OF
|
Colt Loehrs
|
ATU
|
SR
|
6-2
|
201
|
R/R
|
Arkansas City, KS
|
|
OF
|
Madison Beaird
|
ATU
|
SO
|
6-1
|
195
|
L/L
|
Russellville, AR
|
|
OF
|
Paul Anzalone
|
HU
|
SO
|
6-0
|
190
|
R/R
|
El Dorado, AR
|
|
OF
|
Kyle Zimmerman
|
OBU
|
SR
|
5-10
|
170
|
R/R
|
Four Seasons, MO
|
|
OF
|
!Pat Johnson
|
SAU
|
SR
|
5-10
|
185
|
R/R
|
Natchitoches, LA
|
|
SP
|
Reece Cross
|
UAM
|
SR
|
6-2
|
200
|
R/R
|
Pine Bluff, AR
|
|
SP
|
Aaron Newcomb
|
DSU
|
JR
|
6-3
|
195
|
R/R
|
Centralia, IL
|
|
SP
|
Lucas Waddell
|
HU
|
SO
|
6-3
|
185
|
R/R
|
Ladner, British Columbia
|
|
SP
|
%Brodie Brumley
|
HU
|
SR
|
6-1
|
225
|
R/R
|
Scottsboro, AL
|
|
SP
|
Joey Cifuentes
|
SAU
|
JR
|
6-2
|
205
|
R/R
|
Clinton, AR
|
|
RP
|
Josh Wesson
|
HSU
|
SR
|
6-1
|
205
|
R/R
|
Hot Springs, AR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
!—2010 First Team All-GSC selection
|
#—2010 Second Team All-GSC selection
|
|
$—2009 First Team All-GSC selection
|
%—2009 Second Team All-GSC selection
|
|
^—2008 Second Team All-GSC selection
|
|