April 11, 2006
Contact: Cory Blackson, Sports Information Director

USA South Baseball Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for baseball.  A total of 41 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams for baseball.  N.C. Wesleyan College's Blake Rice has been named the Pitcher of the Year while teammate Ben Moore has been named the Rookie Pitcher of the Year.  Greensboro College's Jess Maloney is the Player of the Year while Christopher Newport University's Mike Guarrizzi is the Rookie of the Year.  Methodist coach Tom Austin has been tabbed the 2006 Coach of the Year.   

Maloney, a junior from Clemmons, N.C., led the conference in batting average (.421) and hits (61). The first baseman was also second in home runs (9) and doubles (20).  Maloney had a slugging percentage of .745 and a fielding percentage of .990. The Pride finished 23-13 overall and 10-8 in the USA South as they earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. 

A junior from Rocky Mount, N.C., Rice posted a 6-1 record and 58 strikeouts this season.  He was 4-2 in Conference play.   His 2.61 ERA earned him First Team All-Conference honors.  The Bishops finished second in the conference with a record of 13-5 in the USA South action and 24-9 overall. 

Giarrizzi, a freshman from Woodbridge, Va. played a key role in the Captains finishing fifth in the regular season with a 15-14 overall record and 9-9 in the Conference.  The outfielder hit .363 with 37 hits and scored 11 runs.

A freshman from Smithfield, N.C., Moore posted a 3-4 record with 15 strikeouts this season.  He posted a 3.10 ERA in his 10 appearances for the Bishops.  N.C. Wesleyan finished 24-9 overall and 13-5 in the USA South on their way to a second place finish.

2006 marks the eighth time Austin has been recognized as the Conference Coach of the Year.  He is in his 26th year at Methodist.  The Monarchs won the regular season title after going 13-5 in the Conference and 22-11 overall.

Player of the Year
Jess Maloney, Greeensboro

Pitcher of the Year
Blake Rice, N.C. Wesleyan

Rookie of the Year
Mike Giarrizzi, Christopher Newport

Rookie Pitcher of the Year
Ben Moore, N.C. Wesleyan

Coach of the Year
Tom Austin, Methodist


The 2006 USA South All-Conference Baseball Teams follow:

First Team 1B -  Jess Maloney, Greensboro 2B -  Jeff Gregory, Greensboro 3B -  Pat Burgess, Greenboro SS -  Scott Russell, Methodist C -    Taylor Kennedy, Greensboro DH - Chad Clark, Greensboro Util - Jesse Bowles, Ferrum OF - Ryan Anderson, Shenandoah          Matt Smith, N.C. Wesleyan          Jonathon Spivey, Methodist P -    Kenny Moreland, Christopher Newport          Blake Rice, N.C. Wesleyan RP - Casey Varnell, Methodist

Second Team 1B -  Steve Cornelius, Methodist 2B -  Ryan Snyder, N.C. Wesleyan 3B -  Brett Thomas, Ferrum SS -  Nathan West, N.C. Wesleyan C -    Nick Baker, Ferrum DH -  Kenny Flythe, N.C. Wesleyan Util -  Ryan McDougal, Christopher Newport OF -  T. J. Bray, Averett           Brent Justice, Greensboro           Chris Pecora, N.C. Wesleyan  P -     Kit Mock, Greensboro           Kyle Robertson, N.C. Wesleyan RP -  Nick Sborz, Shenandoah

Honorable Mention
1B -  John Corbin, Christopher Newport
2B -  Daniel Ziccardy, Shenandoah
3B -  David Jenkins, Shenandoah
SS -  Trae Bailey, Christopher Newport
C -    Steven Todd, Shenandoah
         Ted Williams, N.C. Wesleyan
DH - Michael Ellsworth, Methodist
OF - Matt Gammon, Ferrum
         Mike Giarrizzi, Christopher Newport
         John Sain, Ferrum
         Luke Williford, N.C. Wesleyan
P -    Ryan Brandt, Methodist
         Adam Denning, Methodist
         Curtis Taylor, Ferrum
RP - Jimmy Holm, Ferrum