PBC Announces Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team

AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference has announced the 2009 preseason baseball All-Conference team from the league office in Augusta. 11 players from the conference’s 10 teams were named to the team, which is administered and voted on by the league’s sports information directors. The preseason team is diverse with players from eight different schools on the team. Only Francis Marion, North Georgia and GCSU placed more than one player on the squad.

FMU’s Preson Shuey is honored at first base. The sophomore was named the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year after hitting .344 with 55 RBIs and 36 runs scored in 52 games for the Patriots. Shuey had a .532 slugging percentage with seven home runs and 14 doubles and a .966 fielding percentage.

Ken Raborn was named All-Conference at second base in 2008 and was second on the team with a .339 average. A junior, Raborn was ranked in the PBC top 10 in six different offensive categories last year including fourth in home runs with 17, fifth in RBIs with 69 and ninth in runs scored with 58.

Andre Airich received a Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove award for his play at third base for North Georgia. The junior hit .339 with five home runs and 43 RBIs to go with 81 total hits and 18 doubles. Airich committed only one error in the final 13 NGCSU games, which included their PBC Tournament Championship and the team’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Chandler Snell was ranked fourth in assists ad 10th in turning double plays from shortstop at GCSU last year. The junior was equally as impressive at the plate, hitting .348 with one home run and 37 RBIs. Snell stole 15 bases in 17 attempts and was ranked eighth in the Peach Belt in sacrifice bunts.

Jared Barkdoll was named All-Conference, All-Region and received a Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove for his work behind the plate for FMU. Now a senior, he hit .362 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs. He was ranked fifth in the PBC in on-base percentage and scored 39 runs.

Craig Brisson was named PBC All-Conference and All-Region for North Georgia in 2008. The junior outfielder started in all 62 games for the Saints, hitting .356 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs. He led the team with 98 hits and 22 doubles while stealing 24 bases and drawing 31 walks.

Shannon Wilkerson became the first Augusta State player to be named an All-American since 1999. Entering his junior year in the outfielder, he was ranked in the PBC top 10 in nine different categories including his .380 batting average, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, 81 hits and 18 doubles. He also stole 14 bases and had a .718 slugging percentage.

Josh Wilson was named All-Conference and an honorable mention All-American by the NCBWA. A junior outfielder at Armstrong Atlantic State, he hit .408 last year with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. His batting average is the eighth-best in a single season in school history and was second-best in the PBC last year. He was also ranked in the PBC top 10 with his .592 slugging percentage and .460 on-base percentage.

Richard Pirkle hit. 338 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs as the designated hitter for GCSU last season. Named All-Conference at DH, the sophomore scored 35 runs and had a .581 slugging percentage thanks to his 20 extra-base hits. Pirkle upped those numbers against conference opponents, hitting .361 in league games.

Danny Davidson was named All-Conference and All-Region last year for Columbus State. Returning for his senior season, the 6-2 right-hander went 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA as a starter, the third-best ERA in the PBC. He pitched 107.2 innings and was ranked fourth in the nation with his 129 strikeouts. He pitched five complete games and held opponents to a .217 batting average.

Ryan Kirkman was the only relief pitcher named All-Conference in 2008. A senior righty, Kirkman was 4-4 with a team-best 2.88 ERA in 24 appearances. He set a UNC Pembroke school record with 11 saves, going 11-for-14 in save opportunities. Kirkman held opponents to a .245 batting average and combined to throw the first no-hitter at UNCP in 34 years.

2009 PBC Preseason All-Conference Team
First Base – Preston Shuey, Francis Marion
Second Base – Ken Raborn, USC Aiken
Third Base – Andre Airich, North Georgia
Shortstop – Chandler Snell, GCSU
Catcher – Jared Barkdoll, Francis Marion
Outfield – Craig Brisson, North Georgia
Outfield – Shannon Wilkerson, Augusta State
Outfield – Josh Wilson, Armstrong Atlantic State
Designated Hitter – Richard Pirkle, GCSU
Starting Pitcher – Danny Davidson, Columbus State
Relief Pitcher – Ryan Kirkman, UNC Pembroke