Brett Thomas USA South Baseball Player of the Year

Lincoln Garner USA South Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
(540) 365-4306

April 12, 2007


Thomas, Garner Nab USA South Baseball Honors

FERRUM, Va. - The USA South Athletic Conference named it's All-Conference baseball team April  11 and Ferrum College had two players earn two major awards.

Senior third baseman Brett Thomas (Danville, Va./George Washington)
was named Player of the Year, while freshman Lincoln Garner (Ferrum, Va./Franklin County) was named Rookie Pitcher of the Year.  The pair helped Ferrum win a share of this year's USA South regular season title.

       2007 USA South Baseball All-Conference Team

Thomas is batting .397 with 34 runs, eight doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 54 RBI.  Earlier this season, he set the new school record for career RBI.

In 56.2 innings this season, Garner has 4-3 record with a 4.76 ERA.  He's struck out 46 batters and walked 23.  Opponents are batting .278 against Garner this season.

Joining Thomas on the All-Conference first team was freshman relief pitcher Brian Bowles (Salem, Va./Glenvar).  Bowles had pitched 23.2 innings this season, with a 2-0 record and 1.14 ERA.  He has struck out 23 batters, while walking just five.  Opponents are batting .212 against Bowles.

Senior outfielders Brent Sowers (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) and Matt Gammon (Blanch, N.C./Bartlett Yancey), senior utility player Ryan Cooper (Stuarts Draft, Va./Stuarts Draft), and junior catcher Nick Baker (Vinton, Va./William Byrd) were all named to the All-Conference second team.

Senior pitcher Jimmy Holm (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) earned honorable mention.

Ferrum (17-15) Plays in the USA South Tournament as the #2 seed, facing #5 Christopher Newport University tonight at 6:30 p.m.  To keep up with the tournament, please visit the league's official web site link at http://athletics.cnu.edu/Sports/Misc/07usasbasetourn.htm.

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