14 PBC Baseball Players Named All-Region

AUGUSTA, GA -- Fourteen Peach Belt Conference baseball players were named All-Region by the America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Augusta State’s Shannon Wilkerson was named the region Player of the Year while UNC Pembroke’s Matt McGovern was named the Pitcher of the Year. Seven of the 14 All-Region honorees were named to the first team and therefore eligible for All-America consideration.

Wilkerson led the PBC in hitting (.441), slugging (.891), runs (82), hits (101), home runs (24) and triples (7). The 2009 PBC Player of the Year was also second in the PBC in RBIs with 82 and led Augusta State in on-base percentage and stolen bases. His 101 hits is the fourth-highest single-season total in PBC history and his 24 homers the third-highest. He hit three home runs in a PBC Tournament game, setting a tournament record.

McGovern was named the PBC Pitcher of the Year after going 9-0 with a 2.63 ERA. McGovern had the best winning percentage in the PBC and was second in overall wins while third in ERA, eighth in opponent batting average and 11th in strikeouts. He was 4-0 against nationally-ranked opponents including a 15-6 win over #17 GCSU in the first round of the PBC Tournament.

UNC Pembroke led the PBC with four All-Region players including three on the first team. USC Aiken had three while Armstrong Atlantic State and Francis Marion had two apiece. The All-America team will be released over the weekend.

2009 ABCA Southeast All-Region Team

First Team
1b Daniel Kassouf Belmont Abbey
2b Chas Anthony Erskine
3b Craige Lyerly Catawba
SS Rich Racobaldo Mt. Olive
INF Seth Kivett UNC Pembroke
OF Kevin Dietrich UNC Pembroke
OF Shannon Wilkerson Augusta State
OF Bryan Fogle Erskine
OF Mark Letchworth Wingate
C Ryan Query Catawba
DH Travis Howard USC Aiken
SP Matt McGovern UNC Pembroke
SP Cody Walden Armstrong Atlantic St.
SP Nick Fogleman Pfeiffer
SP B.J. Dail Mt. Olive
RP Martin Dewald GCSU

Second Team
1b Ken Raborn USC Aiken
2b Jason Coker UNC Pembroke
3b Andre Airich North Georgia
SS Barrett Kleinknecht Francis Marion
INF Blair Carson Anderson
OF Cody McMorris USC Aiken
OF Alex Wyche Armstrong Atlantic St.
OF Greg Huff Erskine
OF Nate Grabowski Tusculum
C Jared Barkdoll Francis Marion
DH Brian Williams Mars Hill
SP Blake Ketner Catawba
SP Josh Strawn Lincoln Memorial
SP Tyler Powell Belmont Abbey
SP C.J. Hillyer Tusculum
RP Rob Currie Tusculum

Region Player of the Year: Shannon Wilkerson, Augusta State
Region Pitcher of the Year: Matt McGovern, UNC Pembroke