News digest, May 2

Erskine's Francis, NGU's Dierdorf, Powell honored

Erskine's Dale Francis Jr. was named player of the year, North Greenville's Carter Dierdorf  was named freshman of the year and Crusaders coach Landon Powell shared coach of the year honors for Conference Carolinas individual awards as voted on by league coaches.

Francis, a sophomore first baseman, hit. 521 in conference play. Dierdorf hit .356 in 23 conference games. Powell, who directed the Crusaders to the regular-season championship, shared the coaching award with Keith Gorman of Barton. Tanner Halvorson of Barton was named pitcher of the year.

Erskine and North Greenville had four first-team choices apiece, while Francis Marion had one. On the second team were eight Crusaders and two Flying Fleet.

The conference tournament begins Wednesday at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia, N.C.

All Carolinas Conference

First Team

C: Garrett Browder, Belmont Abbey.

1B: Dale Francis, Jr., Erskine; 2B: Ashby Smith, Erskine; 3B: Thomas Collins, Emmanuel; SS: Ryan McIsaac, Barton.

OF: Marek Chlup, North Greenville; Christian Jayne, UNC Pembroke; Pat Monteith, North Greenville; Will Hardee, Francis Marion.

DH: Christian Rivera, Erskine.

SP: Tanner Halvorson, Barton; Reece Fields, North Greenville; Erik Johnson, Mount Olive; Drew Moore, King.

RP: Michael Rodriguez, North Greenville; Johnny Hummel, Erskine.

UTIL: Jack Casbarro, Mount Olive.

Second Team 

C: John Michael Faile, North Greenville.

1B: Ben Ferguson, Belmont Abbey; 2B (tie): Bryce Roddey, North Greenville; Patrick Taylor, Belmont Abbey; 3B (tie): Cory Bivins, North Greenville; Cooper George, Mount Olive; SS: Jalen Vasquez, North Greenville.

OF: Armando Becerra, Erskine; Dylan Jeffries, Mount Olive; Tariq Bacon, Erskine; Vito Patierno, Mount Olive.

DH: Carter Dierdorf, North Greenville.

SP: Jonathan Jacobs, UNC Pembroke; Trent Harris, UNC Pembroke; Alex Sniffen, Belmont Abbey;  Noah Takac, North Greenville.

RP: Nate Roof, North Greenville; Tyler Mayfield, Emmanuel.

UTIL: David Lewis, North Greenville.

All-Defensive Team

C: John Michael Faile, North Greenville.

1B: Ben Ferguson, Belmont Abbey; 2B: Jack Casbarro, Mount Olive; 3B: Cooper George, Mount Olive; SS: Ryan McIsaac, Barton.

LF: Vito Patierno, Mount Olive; CF: Dylan Jeffries, Mount Olive; RF: Will Hardee, Francis Marion.

P: Robbie Jordan, Francis Marion.

UTIL: Will Hood, UNC Pembroke.

Player of the year: Dale Francis, Jr., Erskine.

Pitcher of the year: Tanner Halvorson, Barton.

Freshman of the year: Carter Dierdorf, North Greenville.

Coaches of the year (tie): Keith Gorman, Barton; Landon Powell, North Greenville. 

Conference Carolinas

Clemson honors Burnham, Parker

Former baseball stars Gary Burnham and Kyle Parker are among 11 former student-athletes selected for the 2023 class of the Clemson Athletics Hall of Fame. Burnham hit .340 for his Clemson career in the mid-1990s. Parker, a standout quarterback as well played on the Tigers'  2010 College World Series team.

Clemson

Previews

* South Carolina (at Winthrop)

* The Citadel (at Charleston Southern).

* USC Upstate (Queens).

* Winthrop (South Carolina).

Notes

* USC Aiken