ROCK HILL, SC – Carson-Newman senior Jonathan Dalton (Rutledge, Tenn.) has been named to the All-South Atlantic Conference second team and fellow-senior Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) picked up a Gold Glove for his work in the outfield, the league announced today.

Dalton was second among everyday players for the Eagles in batting average hitting at a .316 clip for the year. He finished with a team-high 10 home runs and 43 RBIs, and tied for the team lead with 12 doubles.  

The senior delivered a number of big hits to power the Eagles during his senior year, including a grand slam to spark a win during a series sweep of Anderson in February and a three-run home run in a come-from-behind 14-12 win at rival Lincoln Memorial last Friday.

Nix was the premiere defensive outfielder in the South Atlantic Conference during 2011. He fielded a perfect 1.000 on 101 put outs and had two assists in starting 45 games for the Eagles.

Carson-Newman opens the South Atlantic Conference Tournament on Wednesday against the second-seeded Wingate Bulldogs. The Eagles took the season series with Wingate, beating the Bulldogs 2-of-3 games in Wingate, N.C. in mid-April.

Wingate University outfielder Dodson McPherson and Catawba College pitcher Nick Lomascolo headline the 2011 South Atlantic Conference Baseball All-Conference Team

Catawba coach Jim Gantt, who guided the Indians to their seventh conference title, was named Coach of the Year. Gantt, the conference's all-time leader in conference and overall victories, wins the award for the fifth time in his career.

Catawba third baseman Chris Dula, who ranked among the league leaders in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs and total bases, was named the Freshman of the Year.

Catawba relief pitcher Wil Huneycutt was named the Scholar-Athlete for baseball. He is a senior majoring in business and carries a 3.979 GPA.

McPherson led the conference with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs this season. He also led the conference in slugging percentage (.745), runs scored (60) and triples (5), and was second in batting average (.412) and total bases (152).

Lomascolo led the conference with a 2.45 ERA and opposing batters hit just .201 against him. He was second in total strikeouts with 79.

Catawba, Tusculum College and Lincoln Memorial University led the way with five All-Conference selections each. Catawba placed all five on the first team.

Catawba also took five spots on the Gold Glove team, which was also announced.

Huneycutt has been on the Dean's List for six semesters and the President's List twice. He was an Academic All-District selection last year. He is a Presidential Scholarship recipient, and a member of two honor societies.

He is a two-time first-team All-Conference selection, as well as a second-team All-Region performer last year. Over his career, he has posted a 10-2 record with nine saves.

He is a member of the Catawba Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and has volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantry, as well as helping to raise money for Make-A-Wish. He also serves as a tutor on campus, is active with Mission Baptist Church and is a volunteer coach with a Junior American Legion baseball team.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes one student-athlete in each of its 14 sports programs and represents a combination of athletic skill, academic achievement and participation in community service and leadership. The award is selected by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives.

The awards will be presented Wednesday after the second game of the 2011 Food Lion SAC Baseball Tournament, which will be played at McNair Field in Forest City, N.C.

The South Atlantic Conference All-Conference and Gold Glove teams are selected by the league's head coaches.

Regular season statistical champions and senior awards were also announced.

2011 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

ALL-CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Catcher - Sean Cotton, Tusculum

Pitcher - Nick Lomascolo, Catawba

Pitcher - JJ Jankowski, Catawba

Pitcher - Craig Goodman, Tusculum

Relief Pitcher - Wil Huneycutt, Catawba

First Baseman - Brian Yeung, Wingate

Second Baseman - Juan Alvarez, LMU

Shortstop - Michael Bueker, Mars Hill

Third Baseman - Chris Dula, Catawba

Outfielder - Dodson McPherson, Wingate

Outfielder - Alexi Colon, Tusculum

Outfielder - Cody Pack, LMU

Designated Hitter - Garrett Furr, Catawba

SECOND TEAM

Catcher - Brian Dice, Lenoir-Rhyne

Pitcher - Austin Johnson, LMU

Pitcher - Justin Somers, Wingate

Pitcher - Dylan Hochevar, Tusculum

Relief Pitcher - Tyler Sturkie, Newberry

First Baseman - Randy O'Dell, Brevard

Second Baseman - Ryan Saxon, Anderson

Shortstop - Chris Love, Newberry

Third Baseman - John Couch, LMU

Outfielder - Michael Brittian, Mars Hill

Outfielder - Jon Dalton, Carson-Newman

Outfielder - Rolondo Bonner, Tusculum

Designated Hitter - Gelson Perez, LMU

COACH OF THE YEAR – Jim Gantt, Catawba

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Chris Dula, Catawba

PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Nick Lomascolo, Catawba

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dodson McPherson, Wingate

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE – Wil Huneycutt, Catawba

GOLD GLOVE TEAM

Pitcher - Christian Hicks, Lenoir-Rhyne

Catcher - Josh Hohn, Catawba

First Base - Austin Moyer, Catawba

Second Base - Mike Gasque, Lenoir-Rhyne

Second Base - Julio Zubillaga, Catawba

Shortstop - Brett Underwood, Catawba

Third Base - Blake May, Anderson

Outfield - Cody Pack, Lincoln Memorial

Outfield - Cody Nix, Carson-Newman

Outfield - Ryan Bostian, Catawba

BASEBALL STAT CHAMPIONS

Batting Average - Michael Bueker, Mars Hill, .417

On-Base Percentage - Lukas Graves, Tusculum, .578

Slugging Percentage - Dodson McPherson, Wingate, .745

Home Runs Per Game - Dodson McPherson, Wingate, 0.30

RBIs Per Game - Dodson McPherson, Wingate, 1.44

Runs Scored Per Game - Rolondo Bonner, Tusculum, 1.22

Triples Per Game - Walton Shepherd, Lenoir-Rhyne, 0.11

Stolen Bases Per Game - Terrence Gray, Newberry, 0.44

Earned Run Average - Nick Lomascolo, Catawba, 2.45

Strikeouts Per Game - JJ Jankowski, Catawba, 11.12

Pitching Victories - Nick Lomascolo, Catawba, 8

Team Batting Average - Wingate, .332

Team Slugging Percentage - Wingate, .516

Triples Per Game - Wingate, 0.32

Doubles Per Game - Wingate, 2.60

Home Runs Per Game - Wingate, 1.10

RBIs Per Game - Lincoln Memorial, 8.00

Team On-Base Percentage - Tusculum, .433

Stolen Bases Per Game - Tusculum, 1.58

Team Earned Run Average - Catawba, 3.75

Strikeouts Per Game - Catawba, 8.54