The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2021 Baseball Award Winners

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSac.com) – Catawba first baseman/pitcher Hunter Shepherd was voted the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Baseball Player of the Year, while Catawba right-handed pitcher Bryan Ketchie was named the Pitcher of the Year.  In addition, Lenoir-Rhyne's Joshua Lanham was voted the SAC Freshman of the Year and Catawba skipper Jim Gantt was named Coach of the Year, the Conference announced today.

Shepherd, a senior from Salisbury, N.C., was one of the top hitters and pitchers in the SAC during the 2021 season. At the plate he finished the regular season with a .424 batting average, driving in 51 runs with 13 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, and 40 runs scored. Additionally, he had five stolen bases, 19 walks, an on-base percentage of .500, and a slugging percentage of .763. On the mound, Shepherd was equally as successful, finishing the season with a 4-2 record, including a complete game with 34.1 innings pitched in seven appearances. He allowed just 15 runs on 33 hits with 25 strikeouts and a 3.93 ERA. 

Ketchie, a senior from Woodleaf, N.C., had an extraordinary season on the mound for the Catawba Indians. He finished the regular season with an 8-0 record, including two complete games and 65.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 14 runs on 55 hits with 50 strikeouts and only seven walks. Ketchie turned in an ERA of 1.92 for the year, the lowest among starting pitchers in the SAC.

Lanham, a freshman right-handed pitcher from Augusta, Ga., posted a 6-1 record on the mound in 10 appearances this season. He threw 54 innings, allowing 15 runs on 38 hits with 79 strikeouts, nine walks and a 2.50 ERA. He earned SAC AstorTurf Pitcher of the Week honors three times and was named NCBWA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week once. 

Gantt earns his 11^th Coach of the Year honor after guiding the Catawba Indians to their 14^th SAC Regular Season Championship, including their seventh title in the last eight years. Under his tutelage, two players earned SAC AstroTurf Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, as well as NCBWA Region Pitcher of the Week accolades in 2021. Currently, the Catawba Indians are ranked No. 7 in the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II National Poll with a record of 31-7 overall. 

Joining Shepherd, Ketchie, and Lanham on the All-SAC first team were outfielders Drue Galassi from Lenoir-Rhyne, Brandon Trammell from Tusculum, and Tyler Thompson from Carson-Newman. Tusculum's Daulton Martin was named the first team second baseman, while Catawba's Cameron Mills and Jeremy Simpson were named third baseman and short stop, respectively. UVA Wise backstop Tyler Blaum was named first team catcher and Tusculum's Trey Hinton was named the first team designated hitter. Rounding out the first team were Carson-Newman starting pitcher Brayden Coe and Wingate reliever Brody McCullough.

The SAC baseball awards will be presented at the 2021 SAC Pilot Flying J Baseball Championship at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn. on Friday, April 23, between games four and five.

All-SAC First Team

OF – Drue Galassi, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Brandon Trammell, Tusculum

OF – Tyler Thompson, Carson-Newman

1B – Hunter Shepherd, Catawba

2B – Daulton Martin, Tusculum

SS – Jeremy Simpson, Catawba

3B – Cameron Mills, Catawba

C – Tyler Blaum, Virginia-Wise

DH – Trey Hinton, Tusculum

SP – Bryan Ketchie, Catawba

SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne

SP – Brayden Coe, Carson-Newman

RP – Brody McCullough, Wingate

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Gabe Wurtz, Virginia-Wise

OF – E.J. Ranel, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Lee Poteat, Catawba

1B – Benjamin Huber, Limestone

2B – Joe Butts, Catawba

SS – Bryson Ford, Tusculum

3B – Tyler Lala, Mars Hill

C – Cameron Morrison, Catawba

DH – Dylan Wilkinson, Catawba

SP – Andrew Patrick, Lenoir-Rhyne

SP – Hunter Dula, Wingate

SP – Greg Brown, Catawba

RP – Robbie Cowie, Catawba

Honorable Mentions

OF – Jack Harris, Newberry

OF – Alex Cornell, Limestone

OF – Josh Evans, Limestone

1B – Luke Orr, Newberry

2B – McCann Mellett, Wingate

SS – Michael Dansky, Wingate

3B – Aidan Baur, Newberry

C – Logan McNeely, Wingate

DH – Drew Klaserner, Coker

SP – Alex Shirzai, Lenoir-Rhyne

SP –Tomas Sorcia Jr., Newberry

SP - Gunner Becker, Tusculum

RP – Mitch McCain, Tusculum

All-Defensive Team

RF – Lee Poteat, Catawba

CF – Bryce Butler, Catawba

LF – Alex Cornell, Limestone

1B – Hunter Shepherd, Catawba

2B – Lake Lybrand, Coker

SS – Jeremy Simpson, Catawba

3B – Cameron Mills, Catawba

C – Tyler Blaum, Virginia-Wise

P – Bryan Ketchie, Catawba 

Player of the Year

Hunter Shepherd, Catawba

Pitcher of the Year

Bryan Ketchie, Catawba 

Freshman of the Year

Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne 

Coach of the Year

Jim Gantt, Catawba