News digest, June 16

Bender, Grice first-team all-Americans

Coastal Carolina's Derek Bender (DH) and Clemson's Caden Grice (utility) have been named first-team all-Americans by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

South Carolina's Ethan Petry (outfield) and Clemson's Billy Amick (DH) were second-team selections.
ABCA

Ector on championship JC team

Former University of South Carolina  player Thad Ector was one of the regulars on the College of Central Florida as it won the NJCAA World Series this season.

Ector played in 60 games, batting .315 with 11 homers and 44 RBI.

Another former Gamecock, Vytas Valincius, hit .403 in 59 games for John A Logan (junior) College. He has committed to Illinois. His brother, Tomas, has committed to play for Virginia. 

Shelton has connection to state

I offer this as information that I discovered today but apparently was common knowledge to most people following the college baseball transfer portal: Third baseman Colby Shelton, who hit 25 home runs as a freshman at Alabama this season and entered the transfer portal earlier this week, has two sisters playing softball at Lexington High School. One of them, Karley, has committed to play at South Carolina. The family moved from Florida to the Midlands last summer. 

Awards

* NCBWA stopper of the year: Cole Denton, Oral Roberts (Teddy Sharkey of Coastal Carolina was a finalist).

* Dick Howser Award:  Paul Skenes, LSU. (Derek Bender of Coastal Carolina, Ryan Galanie of Wofford and Cole Messina and Ethan Petry of South Carolina were semifinalists).