Simons Leads Picks
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Senior Josh Simons leads seven baseball players earning All-USA South Conference honors in selections announced Wednesday by the conference office.'
Simons, who made a successful conversion to starting pitcher after serving as the Hornets closer in 2008, was selected to the league's first team in his new role after winning both of his decisions in USA South Conference play.
Simons defeated then-nationally ranked Christopher Newport on March 22 before completing the year with a complete-game victory over N.C. Wesleyan on April 10. After that last victory, Simons was named as the USA South Conference Pitcher of the Week.
For the season, he is 3-0 with 33 strikeouts in 41.0 innings.
The remaining six selections all came on the league's honorable mention team. Sophomore Greg Van Sickler was picked a first base, Jesse Henry at short, Scott Lambert at catcher, Cory Nelson as the designated hitter and both Jon Holcomb and Jason Eberz in the outfield.
All of those players except Nelson, who is hitting .356, are hitting over .400 with Holcomb leading the league in hitting and Van Sickler in runs batted in.
This is the second All-USA South accolade for Lambert and Van Sickler and the first for the other five players.
In addition to his on-field honor, Henry was also selected as the team's representative to the league's Sportsmanship team.
