PBC Releases First Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference announced its first-ever preseason All-Conference baseball team as the 2008 season prepares to get underway. The team was chosen by the league’s Sports Information Directors and features players from seven of the 10 baseball-playing schools in the PBC.

The team was originally constructed for 11 players, but a tie at the catcher position between Francis Marion’s Jared Barkdoll and GCSU’s Pete Paris pushed the total number to 12. USC Aiken, Columbus State, UNC Pembroke and GCSU each had two selections to lead the schools.

Korey Noles was selected from six nominees at starting pitcher after going 10-3 in 2007 with a 2.64 ERA in 2007. The senior from LaGrange, Ga., made 17 appearances with 16 starts for Columbus State and held opponents to a .244 batting average, sixth-best in the PBC. He also beat Angelo State in the Division II World Series as the Cougars made their run to the championship game.

Michael Newman was named Peach Belt All-Conference and All-Region by both Daktronics and the ABCA in 2007. As a reliever he finished the season with a 9-3 record and 1.81 ERA. He struck out 49 in 59.2 innings pitched. He was also named All-Conference in 2006 for GCSU.

Jared Barkdoll was 13th in the PBC in hitting last year with his .356 average. The senior catcher at Francis Marion also collected 15 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 41 RBIs. Defensively, the junior from Greencastle, Pa., threw out five of 23 runners attempting to steal.

Pete Paris threw out four of 25 runners attempting to steal last year for GCSU. The junior from Scranton, Pa., was also prolific with the bat, hitting .341 with seven home runs, both best on the team. He also drove in 41 and scored 33 runs.

Chad Jacobsen was named PBC All-Conference in 2007 for USC Aiken at first base. The senior from Littleton, Co., hit .343 with 25 doubles, two triples and 11 home runs. He also drove in a school-record 75 RBIs and scored 65 runs. He led the PBC in both doubles and RBIs and was tied for third in home runs.

Josh Wilson was named the PBC Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2007 as a freshman for Armstrong Atlantic State. He hit .458 during the tournament to help the Pirates capture their first-ever tournament title. Wilson hit .360 with a team-high eight home runs and 56 RBIs.

Ken Raborn was second on USC Aiken and 17th in the Peach Belt with his .347 batting average. A junior third baseman from Evans, Ga., Raborn had 24 multi-hit games in 2007 and finished with 15 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 34 RBIs.

Jason Morales hit .362 for UNC Pembroke in 2007 to lead the team. The senior shortstop from Fayetteville, N.C., also collected 19 doubles, eight home runs and 50 RBIs for the Braves. Morales set school records for hits (80) at-bats (221), total bases (125) and fielding assists (184) last year.

Craig Brisson was named the PBC Freshman of the Year in 2007 for North Georgia. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., the outfielder started 55 games for the Saints and finished with a .359 batting average, 11th-best in the Peach Belt. Brisson had a team-best 80 hits and 28 RBIs. He also had six outfield assists.

Kevin Dietrich hit .344 for UNC Pembroke in 2007 with five home runs and 44 RBIs. The senior from Charlotte did not commit an error in the outfield in 132 chances, becoming one of two players in UNCP history to record a perfect fielding percentage.

Rodney Rutherford was named PBC All-Conference in 2007 for Columbus State. Returning for his senior season, the Columbus, Ga., native led the PBC with 14 home runs last year and a .622 slugging percentage. He was tied for second in the league with 63 RBIs and was third with 23 doubles and ninth with 86 total hits.

Jorge Virguez is the top returning hitter for Augusta State after batting .346 for the Jaguars in 2007. The junior from Lawrenceville, Ga., also had one home run and 25 RBIs for the Jaguars and was second on the team with 47 hits.

The 2008 baseball season begins on Feb. 1.