Four Eagles Named All-SAC, Long Earns Scholar-Athlete Award

ROCK HILL, SC – Carson-Newman outfielder Jeff Lockwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) and shortstop Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) have been named to the first team All-South Atlantic baseball team, league officials announced today.

First baseman Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete Award winner, as well as earning second team All-SAC honors. Pitcher Austin Bridgewater (Morristown, Tenn.) also earned second team All-SAC honors.  

Long is a senior majoring in Health Care Administration, and carries a 3.53 GPA. He has been on the Carson-Newman's Dean's List and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is a member of the student chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants and attended the national student conference.

Long is a three-time All-SAC selection at first base. This season, he led the Eagles with a .402 batting average, while hitting eight home runs and driving in 47 runs.

In the community, he has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and helped organize a Halloween party for the Boys' and Girls' Club. Long and his teammates are involved at a local foster home, and he also volunteers at a local thrift store, handing out clothes to the needy. He also donates his time as a youth baseball coach.

Lockwood led the Eagles with 19 home runs and 65 RBIs. The University of Tennessee transfer batted .393 with 12 doubles. He also went 1-1 with two saves for the Eagles as a pitcher.

Rogers batted .388 for the Eagles, and led the team with 17 doubles. He was one of three Eagles in double figures in home runs with 10.

Bridgewater led the Eagles with a 5-0 record overall, 4-0 in SAC play. He finished the regular season with a 3.92 ERA and 48 strikeouts.

Mars Hill coach Dan Taylor, who guided the Lions to a second-place finish was named Coach of the Year. His team led the conference in batting average and several other offensive categories. He wins this award for the second time.

Tusculum College slugger Jared Richmond and Catawba College pitcher Nathan Furr headline the 2010 South Atlantic Conference All-Conference Baseball Team.

Richmond was named Player of the Year after leading the SAC with a .914 slugging percentage and 71 RBIs. He hit a school-record and conference-leading 23 home runs.

Furr went 6-0 with a 3.75 ERA for the Indians and was named Pitcher of the Year.

Garrett Furr, a freshman first baseman, was named Freshman of the Year after hitting .377 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI in his rookie season.

Mars Hill led the way with four selections to the SAC Gold Glove team.

The awards will be presented Thursday after the second game of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Baseball Tournament, which will be played at McNair Field in Forest City, N.C.

The South Atlantic Conference All-Conference and Gold Glove teams are selected by the league's head coaches.

Regular season statistical champions and senior awards were also announced.

2010 All-South Atlantic Conference Baseball Teams

FIRST TEAM

Catcher – Sean Cotten, Tusculum

Pitcher – Nathan Furr, Catawba

Pitcher – Trevor Mullins, Catawba

Pitcher - Tyler Almond, Wingate

Relief Pitcher – Wil Huneycutt, Catawba

1st base – Jared Richmond, Tusculum

2nd base – Logan Isaacs, Wingate

Shortstop – Mills Rogers, Carson-Newman

3rd base – Craige Lyerly, Catawba

Outfield – Wade Moore, Catawba

Outfield - Jeff Lockwood, Carson-Newman

Outfield – Mike Kitt, Mars Hill

Designated Hitter – Brian Dice, Lenoir-Rhyne

SECOND TEAM 

Catcher – Rob Knight, Lenoir-Rhyne

Pitcher – Austin Bridgewater, Carson-Newman

Pitcher – Tyler Collins, Tusculum

Pitcher - Justin Hall, Mars Hill

Relief Pitcher – Tony Hearrell, Mars Hill

1st base – Derek Long, Carson-Newman

2nd base – Payden Houser, Tusculum

Shortstop – Chris Vazquez, Wingate

3rd base – John Couch, Lincoln Memorial

Outfield – Nate Grabowski, Tusculum

Outfield – Cody Pack, Lincoln Memorial

Outfield – Evan Taylor, Lenoir-Rhyne

Designated Hitter - Sean Finucane, Tusculum

GOLD GLOVE TEAM

Pitcher - Greg Smith, Mars Hill

Catcher - Rob Knight, Lenoir-Rhyne

1st Base - Brandon Savacoa, Mars Hill

2nd Base - Hank Wofford, Lenoir-Rhyne

Shortstop - Devin Presnell, Mars Hill

3rd Base - Craige Lyerly, Catawba

Outfield - Wade Moore, Catawba

Outfield - Evan Taylor, Lenoir-Rhyne

Outfield - Mike Kitt, Mars Hill

Player of the Year – Jared Richmond, Tusculum

Pitcher of the Year – Nathan Furr, Catawba

Freshman of the Year – Garrett Furrn, Catawba

Coach of the Year – Dan Taylor, Mars Hill

Scholar-Athlete – Derek Long, Carson-Newman

Statistical Champions

Batting Average - Mike Kitt, Mars Hill, .467

On-Base Percentage - Wade Moore, Catawba, .579

Triples Per Game - Nick Siega-Riz, Wingate, 0.12

RBIs Per Game - Jared Richmond, Tusculum, 1.65

Slugging Percentage- Jared Richmond, Tusculum, .914

Home Runs Per Game - Jared Richmond, Tusculum, .53

Runs Scored Per Game - Mike Kitt, Mars Hill, 1.67

Stolen Bases Per Game - Wade Moore, Catawba, .67

Earned Run Average - DJ Ferguson, Carson-Newman, 2.90

Pitching Victories - Trevor Mullins, Catawba, 7

Strikeouts Per Game - Wes McIntyre, Carson-Newman, 11.74

Team Batting Average - Mars Hill, .369

Team Stolen Bases Per Game - Catawba, 1.72

Team Triples Per Game - Carson-Newman, .30

Team Earned Run Average - Catawba, 4.64

Team Strikeouts Per Game - Catawba, 8.33

Team Slugging Percentage - Mars Hill, .575

Team On-Base Percentage - Mars Hill, .444

Team Runs Per Game - Mars Hill, 10.21

Team Doubles Per Game - Mars Hill, 2.76

Team Home Runs Per Game - Carson-Newman, 1.59

Team RBIs Per Game - Mars Hill, 9.45