1-26-16

DAHLONEGA | The University of North Georgia baseball team had three players recognized in the 2016 preseason awards circuit as Brandon Agar and Sam Tidaback were named to the NCBWA All-Southeast Region preseason squad while Connor Hoover and Tidaback were each selected to the Peach Belt’s All-Conference preseason team.

Agar, North Georgia’s most veteran pitcher, led the talented UNG staff last season with a team-high 16 starts and 90.1 innings pitched. The Snellville native enters his redshirt-senior season with 202 career strikeouts.

Hoover was named the 2015 PBC Freshman of the Year at shortstop after an amazing freshman campaign that helped the Nighthawks to their first regular-season PBC title. The Appling native hit .308 with three home runs and 48 RBIs. He led the conference in walks with 47 and sported a .442 on-base percentage. He was equally good in the field, leading the conference in assists and helping turn 24 double plays.

Nighthawk backstop Sam Tidaback was named first team All-PBC after hitting .321 last year with nine home runs and 36 RBI. He was fourth on the team in slugging and fifth in on-base percentage. Behind the plate, the native of Plainfield, Ill., led the PBC with 17 base runners thrown out and had a .984 fielding percentage. UNG led the PBC in team ERA last season at 3.85.

North Georgia will open up its 2016 this Saturday, hosting Valdosta State in a doubleheader Saturday at Bob Stein Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

NCBWA All-Southeast Region Preseason Team
First Team
Starting Pitcher: Placido Torres, Tusculum
Starting Pitcher: Mike O’Reilly, Flagler
Starting Pitcher: Matt Kelley, Francis Marion
Relief Pitcher: Tyler Graham, Armstrong State
Catcher: Will Albertson, Catawba
First Base: Joe Koehler, Mount Olive
Second Base: Shane Billings, Wingate
Third Base: Matthew De La Rosa, Lenoir-Rhyne
Shortstop: Ryan Perkins, Lenoir-Rhyne
Outfield: Clint Hardy, Augusta
Outfield: J.D. Crowe, Francis Marion
Outfield: Rayshelon Carolina, Mars Hill
Designated Hitter: Mike McLellan, Columbus State
Utility: Will Jones, Lander

Second Team
Starting Pitcher: Vince Apicella, Carson-Newman
Starting Pitcher: Shafer Shepard, Catawba
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Agar, North Georgia
Relief Pitcher: Devan Watts, Tusculum
Catcher: Sam Tidaback, North Georgia
First Base: Steven Cooper, Anderson
Second Base: Zak Orrison, Mount Olive
Third Base: Nick Nunziato, Belmont Abbey
Shortstop: Evan Rogers, Mars Hill
Outfield: JoJo Bradley, Newberry
Outfield: Ryan Whitt, King
Outfield: Sam Cothran, Erskine
Designated Hitter: Drew Taylor, Augusta
Utility: Bradley Brown, Wingate

Peach Belt Preseason All-Conference Team
First Base: Mike McClellan, Columbus State
Second Base: Dylan Cook, Georgia College
Third Base: Zach Wall, Young Harris
Shortstop: Connor Hoover, North Georgia
Catcher: Sam Tidaback, North Georgia
Outfield: J.D. Crowe, Francis Marion
Outfield: Clint Hardy, Augusta University
Outfield: Jackson Oliver, Columbus State
Designated Hitter: Brett Westmoreland, Young Harris
Starting Pitcher: Mike O’Reilly, Flagler
Relief Pitcher: Tyler Graham, Armstrong
 

 

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