All-GSC teams announced

For the second consecutive season, Southern Arkansas earned the most All-GSC First Team and overall selections on the heels of its first-ever, outright GSC West Division championship.

The Muleriders had 10 total choices for the second straight year but garnered eight First Team nods led by unanimous selection and GSC West Division Player of the Year Hayden Simpson (SP). Simpson, the 2008 GSC West Division Freshman of the Year, led the league in ERA (1.82), opponents’ batting average (.194), strikeouts (99) and wins (11). The hometown product from Magnolia also tossed 42.2 consecutive scoreless innings this season, second best in GSC history, en route to becoming the 30^th player to earn First Team accolades three times and first from SAU. Simpson is the third Mulerider to win Player of the Year honors and first since Bobby Beeson in 2004. The junior is joined on the First Team by two other unanimous choices, third baseman Cannon Lester and shortstop Andrew Whittington, as well as first baseman Logan Williams, second baseman Nick Paschal, designated hitter Jake Astor, outfielder Patrick Johnson and starting pitcher Matt Speake. Lester, a 2008 Second Team selection, and Whittington were both First Team honorees last season.

WEST DIVISION
POS. NAME SCHOOL YEAR HT WT B/T HOMETOWN
C Erin McCarver HU FR 5-10 180 R/R Carrollton, Texas
1B Logan Williams SAU JR 6-1 215 R/R Damascus, Ark.
1B *—Jason Nappi HU JR 6-1 205 R/R Birmingham, Ala.
2B Nick Paschal SAU SR 5-9 155 R/R Scott, La.
3B $@—Cannon Lester SAU SR 5-11 185 R/R El Dorado, Ark.
SS $—Andrew Whittington SAU SR 6-2 200 L/R Texas City, Texas
DH Jake Astor SAU JR 6-0 215 L/L North Liberty, Iowa
OF Matt Johnson ATU JR 6-1 195 R/R Grand Saline, Texas
OF Chad Wynn ATU SR 6-0 183 R/R Bono, Ark.
OF Will Gowdy OBU SR 6-4 220 R/L Amarillo, Texas
OF Patrick Johnson SAU JR 5-10 185 R/R Natchitoches, La.
SP Josh Floriani ATU SR 6-0 234 R/R Malvern, Ark.
SP Hayden Simpson SAU JR 6-0 175 R/R Magnolia, Ark.
SP Matt Speake SAU SR 6-1 205 R/R Tyler, Texas
RP Tyler Billen HU FR 6-4 255 L/L Edmond, Okla.
RP Alex Aguilar HSU SO 6-2 215 R/R Sulphur Springs, Texas
West Division Player of the Year—Hayden Simpson – SP, Southern Arkansas
West Division Freshman of the Year—Erin McCarver – C, Harding

2nd team:

WEST DIVISION
POS. NAME SCHOOL YEAR HT WT B/T HOMETOWN
C Landon Sullins ATU SO 6-0 213 R/R Valley Springs, Ark.
C #—Kendal Norman HSU JR 6-1 212 R/R Hot Springs, Ark.
3B Nick Makris ATU JR 6-0 185 L/R Little Rock, Ark.
SS Michael Diffie UAM JR 5-9 190 R/R El Dorado, Ark.
DH Joe Walton ATU SR 6-2 194 R/R Inola, Okla.
OF Brian Johnson UAM SR 5-11 195 L/L Greenville, Miss.
OF Anthony Guglielmi HU FR 6-0 180 R/L Charlotte, N.C.
OF Gip Hendrix HSU JR 6-1 200 R/R Haughton, La.
OF Gavan McCauley SAU SO 5-10 150 L/L Prescott, Ark.
SP #—Jonathan Dooley HSU SR 6-0 205 R/R Dequeen, Ala.
SP Dan Bream SAU JR 6-6 170 R/R Coldwater, Mich.

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