SSAC News
Tue, May 9, 2006 - [Baseball]
Lee University's Andrew Shaver has crossed another hurdle in his quest for NAIA First Team All-American honors. The junior outfielder was named the Region XIII Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Earlier, the former Chattanooga Central High School athlete had been selected as the Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He joins senior pitcher John Kirby as the only Flames named to the 17-member region squad.
Shaver heads into the opening round of Region XIII play on Wednesday (1 p.m.) with an impressive .407 batting average in 56 games and 214 trips to the plate. He has a sparkling on-base percentage of .478.
In the 56 games, the hard-hitting lead-off man has helped the Flames post a 40-16 record. He was tops in the SSAC in runs scored (60), hits (87), doubles (21) and home runs (14). Shaver also has knocked in 57 runs, second in the conference.
Kirby, who has battled hamstring problems in recent weeks, is 10-2 with an impressive earned run average of 1.67. In 13 starts, Big Jon has worked 80.2 innings. He has allowed just 45 hits and 27 runs. Kirby has a remarkable 102/34 strikeout to walk ratio.
Regular-season champion Auburn-Montgomery placed three players on the squad, first-baseman Travis Granberry; second baseman Junior Kelley and shortstop Matt Keel. Shorter College was represented by third baseman Devin Porter (tied with Shaver for home-run honors with 14); and Southern Polytechnic State landed two players, outfielder Chuck Poteet and pitcher Richard Riley on the team. Catcher Jonathan Kelley garnered the honors for Emmanuel College. Nick Stillwagon of Faulkner University was also named as a catcher and Georgia Southwestern had a pair of pitchers, Jason Starr and Brian Gartley on the list. Brewton-Parker's Justin Dover rounded out those making the squad from the SSAC. He's a designated hitter.
Thirteen of the 17 All-Region players came from the SSAC. From the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, Thomas Royals (Belhaven) was selected as an infielder. Dusty Maddox (LSU-Shreveport) and Greg Alexander (William Carey, Miss.) were two of the outfielders, while Brad Fultz of Belhaven grabbed one of the four pitcher's slots.
Lee faced LSU-Shreveport in the opening round of the Region XIII tournament in Montgomery, Ala on Wednesday at 1 p.m. (Eastern). The event is hosted by No. 1 seeded Auburn-Montgomery. Belhaven (Miss) is second seeded and the Flames hold the third seed. Other teams in the six-team, double elimination field are Georgia Southwestern State University and Berry College.
In other action, Belhaven faces Georgia Southwestern at 4:30 and Berry battles Auburn Montgomery at 8 p.m. The double elimination tourney is scheduled to end Saturday.
Earlier, the former Chattanooga Central High School athlete had been selected as the Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He joins senior pitcher John Kirby as the only Flames named to the 17-member region squad.
Shaver heads into the opening round of Region XIII play on Wednesday (1 p.m.) with an impressive .407 batting average in 56 games and 214 trips to the plate. He has a sparkling on-base percentage of .478.
In the 56 games, the hard-hitting lead-off man has helped the Flames post a 40-16 record. He was tops in the SSAC in runs scored (60), hits (87), doubles (21) and home runs (14). Shaver also has knocked in 57 runs, second in the conference.
Kirby, who has battled hamstring problems in recent weeks, is 10-2 with an impressive earned run average of 1.67. In 13 starts, Big Jon has worked 80.2 innings. He has allowed just 45 hits and 27 runs. Kirby has a remarkable 102/34 strikeout to walk ratio.
Regular-season champion Auburn-Montgomery placed three players on the squad, first-baseman Travis Granberry; second baseman Junior Kelley and shortstop Matt Keel. Shorter College was represented by third baseman Devin Porter (tied with Shaver for home-run honors with 14); and Southern Polytechnic State landed two players, outfielder Chuck Poteet and pitcher Richard Riley on the team. Catcher Jonathan Kelley garnered the honors for Emmanuel College. Nick Stillwagon of Faulkner University was also named as a catcher and Georgia Southwestern had a pair of pitchers, Jason Starr and Brian Gartley on the list. Brewton-Parker's Justin Dover rounded out those making the squad from the SSAC. He's a designated hitter.
Thirteen of the 17 All-Region players came from the SSAC. From the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, Thomas Royals (Belhaven) was selected as an infielder. Dusty Maddox (LSU-Shreveport) and Greg Alexander (William Carey, Miss.) were two of the outfielders, while Brad Fultz of Belhaven grabbed one of the four pitcher's slots.
Lee faced LSU-Shreveport in the opening round of the Region XIII tournament in Montgomery, Ala on Wednesday at 1 p.m. (Eastern). The event is hosted by No. 1 seeded Auburn-Montgomery. Belhaven (Miss) is second seeded and the Flames hold the third seed. Other teams in the six-team, double elimination field are Georgia Southwestern State University and Berry College.
In other action, Belhaven faces Georgia Southwestern at 4:30 and Berry battles Auburn Montgomery at 8 p.m. The double elimination tourney is scheduled to end Saturday.
