Photo by: Ken Lanese
Four Bears Earn All-SoCon Postseason Honors
5/20/2019 3:03:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer represented by four players on all-conference, all-freshman teams
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Four Mercer student-athletes earned Southern Conference baseball postseason accolades when the league office announced its all-conference teams, all-freshman teams and individual award winners on Monday afternoon.
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Graduate senior Kel Johnson (first team, coaches; second team, media), senior Kevin Coulter (second team, coaches), sophomore RJ Yeager (second team, coaches) and freshman Angelo DiSpigna (all-freshman team; second team, media) represented Mercer with postseason honors.
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SoCon coaches voted on an all-conference first team and second team as well as an all-freshman team while the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) voted on an all-conference first team and second team. Mercer has had at least four players earn SoCon postseason honors in each of its first five years as a conference member.
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OF Kel Johnson | First Team (Coaches), Second Team (Media)
Johnson was the SoCon's top power hitter this season, slugging 21 home runs and 60 runs batted in after joining Mercer as a fifth-year graduate transfer. He led all conference players in both categories and batted .289 with 54 starts, primarily in right field. The Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., product added seven doubles, 46 runs and a .632 slugging percentage.
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RHP Kevin Coulter | Second Team (Coaches)
Coulter led the Bears in innings pitched (76.1) and went 5-2 overall with a 2.95 earned run average as a senior. After starting the season in the closer role and picking up three saves, Coulter moved back into the weekend rotation and made 10 starts on the mound. He struck out 61 batters and went at least six innings in seven starts against SoCon opponents.
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SS RJ Yeager | Second Team (Coaches)
Yeager anchored Mercer's shortstop position as a sophomore and led the Bears with 13 doubles. He batted .263 overall with 57 hits, 34 RBI and added eight home runs. A hot start to the season helped Yeager earn SoCon Player of the Month honors for February. He started all 55 games at shortstop and has started 115 consecutive games at the position since the start of his freshman season.
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1B Angelo DiSpigna | All-Freshman Team (Coaches), Second Team (Media)
DiSpigna, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., proved to be one of the league's brightest young stars as he started 53 games for Mercer, primarly at first base. The left-handed hitter slugged 12 home runs and added 38 RBI, both of which ranked second on the team behind Johnson. Seven of DiSpigna's 12 home runs came in conference action.
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2019 SoCon Baseball Coaches All-Southern Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Justice Bigbie, 3B, Western Carolina, So.
Pitcher of the Year – Chad Sykes, RHP, UNCG, R-Sr.
Freshman of the Year – Hayes Heinecke, RHP, Wofford
Coach of the Year – Casey Dunn, Samford Â
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First Team
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Micah Kaczor, RHP, ETSU, Sr.Â
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Hester, RHP, Samford, Jr.
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chad Sykes, RHP, UNCG, R-Sr.Â
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jackson Greer, ETSU, Jr.Â
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sonny DiChiara, Samford, Fr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brett Rodriguez, Wofford, Jr.
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Fryman, Samford, Jr.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, So.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Matthew Koehler, Western Carolina, R-Sr.Â
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kel Johnson, Mercer, Gr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jordan Fucci, Samford, R-Jr.
DHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brooks Carlson, Samford, So. Â
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Second Team (13 due to tie in voting)
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hayes Heinecke, Wofford, Fr.
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kevin Coulter, Mercer, Sr.Â
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Jones, Samford, Sr.
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dax Roper, Furman, R-So.Â
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ben Peden, The Citadel, Sr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cullen Smith, ETSU, Jr.
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â RJ Yeager, Mercer, So.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Dempsey, Wofford, Fr.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Caleb Webster, UNCG, Jr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jabari Richards, Furman, Sr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hudson Byorick, Wofford, Jr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colin Davis, Wofford, So.
DH                  Hogan Windish, UNCG, R-Fr. Â
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All-Freshman Team (13 due to tie in voting)
Tyler Corbitt, INF, The Citadel
Colby Emmertz, OF/C, ETSU
Nathanial Tate, RHP, ETSU
Rob Hughes, RHP, Furman
Angelo DiSpigna, INF, Mercer
Zack Budzik, INF, UNCG, Â
Austin Koehn, RHP, UNCG
Hogan Windish, INF, UNCG
Sonny DiChiara, INF, Samford
Colin Bertsch, INF, Western Carolina
Matty Brown, INF, Wofford
John Dempsey, INF, Wofford
Hayes Heinecke, RHP, Wofford
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2019 SoCon Sports Media Association Baseball All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Justice Bigbie, 3B, Western Carolina, So.Â
Pitcher of the Year – Zach Hester, RHP, Samford, Jr. Â
Freshman of the Year – Sonny DiChiara, 1B, Samford
Coach of the Year – Casey Dunn, Samford
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First Team
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Hester, Samford
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Micah Kaczor, ETSU
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chad Sykes, UNCG, R-Sr.
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jackson Greer, ETSU, Jr.
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sonny DiChiara, Samford, Fr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brett Rodriguez, Wofford, Jr.Â
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zack Budzik, UNCG, Fr.
3B                   Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, So. Â
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Matthew Koehler, Western Carolina, R-Sr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jordan Fucci, Samford, R-Jr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jabari Richards, Furman, Sr.Â
DHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brooks Carlson, Samford, So.
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Second Team
SP                  Hayes Heinecke, Wofford, Fr.
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zak Kent, VMI, Jr. Â Â
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Jones, Samford, Sr.Â
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dax Roper, Furman, R-So.Â
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Angelo DiSpigna, Mercer, Fr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cullen Smith, ETSU, Jr.
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Branden Fryman, Samford, Jr.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Dempsey, Wofford, Fr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kel Johnson, Mercer, Gr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Greg Hardison, UNCG, So.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mike Brown, Wofford, Jr.
DHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hogan Windish, UNCG, R-Fr.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Graduate senior Kel Johnson (first team, coaches; second team, media), senior Kevin Coulter (second team, coaches), sophomore RJ Yeager (second team, coaches) and freshman Angelo DiSpigna (all-freshman team; second team, media) represented Mercer with postseason honors.
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SoCon coaches voted on an all-conference first team and second team as well as an all-freshman team while the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) voted on an all-conference first team and second team. Mercer has had at least four players earn SoCon postseason honors in each of its first five years as a conference member.
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OF Kel Johnson | First Team (Coaches), Second Team (Media)
Johnson was the SoCon's top power hitter this season, slugging 21 home runs and 60 runs batted in after joining Mercer as a fifth-year graduate transfer. He led all conference players in both categories and batted .289 with 54 starts, primarily in right field. The Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., product added seven doubles, 46 runs and a .632 slugging percentage.
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RHP Kevin Coulter | Second Team (Coaches)
Coulter led the Bears in innings pitched (76.1) and went 5-2 overall with a 2.95 earned run average as a senior. After starting the season in the closer role and picking up three saves, Coulter moved back into the weekend rotation and made 10 starts on the mound. He struck out 61 batters and went at least six innings in seven starts against SoCon opponents.
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SS RJ Yeager | Second Team (Coaches)
Yeager anchored Mercer's shortstop position as a sophomore and led the Bears with 13 doubles. He batted .263 overall with 57 hits, 34 RBI and added eight home runs. A hot start to the season helped Yeager earn SoCon Player of the Month honors for February. He started all 55 games at shortstop and has started 115 consecutive games at the position since the start of his freshman season.
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1B Angelo DiSpigna | All-Freshman Team (Coaches), Second Team (Media)
DiSpigna, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., proved to be one of the league's brightest young stars as he started 53 games for Mercer, primarly at first base. The left-handed hitter slugged 12 home runs and added 38 RBI, both of which ranked second on the team behind Johnson. Seven of DiSpigna's 12 home runs came in conference action.
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2019 SoCon Baseball Coaches All-Southern Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Justice Bigbie, 3B, Western Carolina, So.
Pitcher of the Year – Chad Sykes, RHP, UNCG, R-Sr.
Freshman of the Year – Hayes Heinecke, RHP, Wofford
Coach of the Year – Casey Dunn, Samford Â
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First Team
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Micah Kaczor, RHP, ETSU, Sr.Â
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Hester, RHP, Samford, Jr.
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chad Sykes, RHP, UNCG, R-Sr.Â
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jackson Greer, ETSU, Jr.Â
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sonny DiChiara, Samford, Fr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brett Rodriguez, Wofford, Jr.
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Fryman, Samford, Jr.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, So.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Matthew Koehler, Western Carolina, R-Sr.Â
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kel Johnson, Mercer, Gr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jordan Fucci, Samford, R-Jr.
DHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brooks Carlson, Samford, So. Â
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Second Team (13 due to tie in voting)
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hayes Heinecke, Wofford, Fr.
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kevin Coulter, Mercer, Sr.Â
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Jones, Samford, Sr.
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dax Roper, Furman, R-So.Â
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ben Peden, The Citadel, Sr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cullen Smith, ETSU, Jr.
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â RJ Yeager, Mercer, So.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Dempsey, Wofford, Fr.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Caleb Webster, UNCG, Jr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jabari Richards, Furman, Sr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hudson Byorick, Wofford, Jr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colin Davis, Wofford, So.
DH                  Hogan Windish, UNCG, R-Fr. Â
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All-Freshman Team (13 due to tie in voting)
Tyler Corbitt, INF, The Citadel
Colby Emmertz, OF/C, ETSU
Nathanial Tate, RHP, ETSU
Rob Hughes, RHP, Furman
Angelo DiSpigna, INF, Mercer
Zack Budzik, INF, UNCG, Â
Austin Koehn, RHP, UNCG
Hogan Windish, INF, UNCG
Sonny DiChiara, INF, Samford
Colin Bertsch, INF, Western Carolina
Matty Brown, INF, Wofford
John Dempsey, INF, Wofford
Hayes Heinecke, RHP, Wofford
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2019 SoCon Sports Media Association Baseball All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Justice Bigbie, 3B, Western Carolina, So.Â
Pitcher of the Year – Zach Hester, RHP, Samford, Jr. Â
Freshman of the Year – Sonny DiChiara, 1B, Samford
Coach of the Year – Casey Dunn, Samford
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First Team
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zach Hester, Samford
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Micah Kaczor, ETSU
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chad Sykes, UNCG, R-Sr.
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jackson Greer, ETSU, Jr.
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sonny DiChiara, Samford, Fr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brett Rodriguez, Wofford, Jr.Â
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zack Budzik, UNCG, Fr.
3B                   Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, So. Â
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Matthew Koehler, Western Carolina, R-Sr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jordan Fucci, Samford, R-Jr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jabari Richards, Furman, Sr.Â
DHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brooks Carlson, Samford, So.
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Second Team
SP                  Hayes Heinecke, Wofford, Fr.
SPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zak Kent, VMI, Jr. Â Â
RPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Jones, Samford, Sr.Â
CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dax Roper, Furman, R-So.Â
1BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Angelo DiSpigna, Mercer, Fr.
2BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cullen Smith, ETSU, Jr.
SSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Branden Fryman, Samford, Jr.
3BÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Dempsey, Wofford, Fr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kel Johnson, Mercer, Gr.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Greg Hardison, UNCG, So.
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mike Brown, Wofford, Jr.
DHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hogan Windish, UNCG, R-Fr.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Players Mentioned
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