College of Charleston senior Marty Gantt was named Southern Conference Player of the Year and junior Christian Powell earned Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year as voted on by the league’s coaches.
This season marked the first time that the Cougars won both the Player and Pitcher of the Year in the same season. The College of Charleston has won the SoCon Player of the Year in four of the last five seasons as Jeremie Tice (2008), Joey Bergman (2009), Matt Leeds (2010) and now Marty Gantt (2012) have all been honored. The Cougars’ last Pitcher of the Year award came in 2007 when Nick Chigges won the honor.
Both Gantt and Powell were named to the All-Southern Conference First Team. Sophomore Brandon Murray and junior Bradley Goodson earned a spot on the All-Southern Conference Second Team.
A native of North Augusta, S.C., Gantt finished third in the conference with a .369 batting average and a league-best 62 runs scored. He finished second in doubles (19) and third in stolen bases (25), while leading the SoCon in walks (41) and on-base percentage (.481). Gantt is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award and was named to the USA Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
Powell led the Southern Conference with an ERA of 2.32 while he posted a record of 9-3 on the season. The Greenwood, S.C. native was second in opposing batting average (.230) as he had 69 strikeouts with just 24 walks.
In his first season as a starter, Murray led the Cougars with 11 home runs and finished third on the team with a batting average of .315. He earned SoCon Player of the Week on March 26.
Transferring to the College from Central Florida Community College, Goodson finished second on the team with 42 RBI while he hit .292. He earned SoCon Player of the Week honors in week nine.
2012 SoCon Baseball All-Conference Team
Player of the Year – Marty Gantt, Sr., OF, College of Charleston
Pitcher of the Year – Christian Powell, Jr., RHP, College of Charleston
Freshman of the Year – Chase Griffin, C, Georgia Southern
Coach of the Year – Chris Pollard, Appalachian State
First Team
SP Christian Powell, College of Charleston
SP Josh Martin, Samford
RP Preston Hatcher, Western Carolina
C Alex Swim, Elon
1B Saxon Butler, Samford
2B Ross Heffley, Western Carolina
SS Will Callaway, Appalachian State
3B Eric Phillips, Georgia Southern
OF Marty Gantt, College of Charleston
OF Phillip Ervin, Samford
OF Brandon Miller, Samford
DH Daniel Kassouf, Appalachian State
Second Team
SP Ryan Arrowood, Appalachian State
SP Brandon Yarusi, Wofford
RP C.K. Irby, Samford
C Brad Moss, Samford
1B Ryan Kinsella, Elon
2B Hector Crespo, Appalachian State
SS Bradley Goodson, College of Charleston
3B Thomas Troelstrup, UNCG
OF Tyler Tewell, Appalachian State
OF Tyler Zupcic, Appalachian State
OF Brandon Murray, College of Charleston
DH Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Brandon Burris, Appalachian State
Jamie Nunn, Appalachian State
Kevin Connell, The Citadel
Mason Davis, The Citadel
Henry Sisson, Davidson
Chris Ohmstede, Furman
Elliott Warford, Furman
Tyler Avera, Georgia Southern
Chase Griffin, Georgia Southern
Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina
Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
Bradley Strong, Western Carolina
