PEMBROKE, N.C. – Carson-Newman starting pitcher Vince Apicella has become Carson-Newman's first all-region honoree since 2012. Apicella earns a spot on the honorable mention all-region team from the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association.
Apicella is Carson-Newman's first all-region honoree since Kyle Koeneman garnered the accolade on the way to all-America honors in 2012.
Apicella was 7-5 with a 3.70 earned run average this season as opponents are hitting just .220 against the southpaw this year.
The junior is second nationally with 111 strikeouts on the year while leading the league and ranking 14th at the Division II level with six complete games.
Only Brett Hontz in 2008 and Ben Deaton in 1998 equal Apicella for complete games in a season since Carson-Newman joined Division II in 1994 with six complete games apiece.
The Dillsburg, Pa. native tallied complete games in each of his first four starts this year including a three-hit shutout with a career-high 13 strikeouts in the 1-0 win against Catawba on February 7.
The lefty earned the SAC Pitcher of the Week honor on two occasions this season doing so in consecutive weeks.
He was the first Eagle hurler since Austin Bridgewater in 2007 to win the award twice in one year. Apicella has struck out 10 or more batters in a game on six occasions going 5-1 in such contests.
Player of the Year: Will Albertson, Catawba
Pitcher of the Year: Craig Brooks, Catawba
Coach of the Year: Tom Cantrell, North Georgia
FIRST TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Craig Brooks, Catawba
Starting Pitcher: Mike O'Reilly, Flagler
Starting Pitcher: Gunnar Kines, Mount Olive
Relief Pitcher: Adam Boghosian, North Greenville
Catcher: Will Albertson, Catawba
First Base: Albert Baur, Newberry
Second Base: Shane Billings, Wingate
Third Base: Collins Cuthrell, UNC Pembroke
Shortstop: Brandon Overstreet, Erskine
Outfield: Jason Morozowski, Mount Olive
Outfield: Thomas Spitz, Wingate
Outfield: Clint Hardy, Georgia Regents
Designated Hitter: Mike McLellan, Columbus State
Utility: Matt Rubino, Francis Marion
SECOND TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Placido Torres, Tusculum
Starting Pitcher: Wesley Camp, Newberry
Starting Pitcher: Pete Nagel, Armstrong State
Relief Pitcher: Tyler Graham, Armstrong State
Catcher: Anthony Dimino, Belmont Abbey
First Base: Joe Koehler, Mount Olive
Second Base: Andrew Brodbeck, Flagler
Third Base: Justin Manning, Mount Olive
Shortstop: Zade Denton, UNC Pembroke
Outfield: Jake Sandlin, Georgia College
Outfield: Brendan Collins, Columbus State
Outfield: Blake Houston, Catawba
Designated Hitter: Drew Taylor, Georgia Regents
Utility: Allen Staton, North Greenville
HONORABLE MENTION
Starting Pitcher: Danny Brown, Flagler; Matt Kelley, Francis Marion; Vince Apicella, Carson-Newman; Luke Crumley, Erskine; Derek Justice, Mount Olive; Jacob Beauchamp, North Georgia; Andy Sullivan, UNC Pembroke; Shafer Shepard, Catawba. Relief Pitcher: Devan Watts, Tusculum. Catcher: Sam Tidaback, North Georgia; Chad Whitehead, UNC Pembroke. First Base: Steven Knudson, Montevallo; Zach Smith, Erskine. Second Base: Dylan Cook, Georgia College; Zak Orrison, Mount Olive. Third Base: Nick Nunziato, Belmont Abbey; Nick Morabito, Lincoln Memorial. Shortstop: Ryan Perkins, Lenoir-Rhyne; Jose Sola, King. Outfield: Izzy Perez, Pfeiffer; Matthew Haskins, Montevallo; Rayshelon Carolina, Mars Hill; Drew Cole, UNC Pembroke; Brandan Sheridan, Newberry; J.D. Crowe, Francis Marion; Ben Schmucker, UNC Pembroke; Kilgore Gailmard, Mount Olive; Nick Kranick, Flagler; Logan Galliher, Erskine. Designated Hitter: T.J. Wharton, Catawba; Bradley Brown, Wingate. Utility: Rob Shipman, Mount Olive.