Haley, Lewis Named To ABCA/Rawlings Preseason All-American Squad
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The preseason recognition continued to roll in for the UNCP baseball team on Tuesday morning as Josh Haley and Braxton Lewis each grabbed preseason all-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), while two other players were included on watch lists.
The preseason all-American nods marked the fourth-straight year that a UNCP baseball player has been included on any of two preseason all-America teams. Fifth-year senior Brad Isom was one of 25 players in the Southeast Region to be named to the "Players To Watch" list, while freshman southpaw Jordan DeLoatch was included on the "Newcomers To Watch" listing.
Haley, a first team all-region honoree by the American Baseball Coaches Association last season, hit .354 (81-for-229) in 56 starts for the Braves in 2011 and ranked among the top-10 league leaders in 11 different offensive statistical categories, while leading the PBC in total bases (125) and at-bats (229). He also ranked second in the conference in runs scored (61), hits, and total plate appearances (266).The Pinehurst native booked a team-best 24 multiple-hit games, including eight 3-hit contests, and ranked second on the squad with 12 multiple-RBI outings. Haley reached base safely (hit or walk) in 50 of the 56 games in which he played, including a base hit in each of the first 12 games in February.
Lewis, an all-American selection by three different organizations, allowed just two earned runs in 47 innings of relief work last season while recording a 7-1 record with a 0.38 ERA, nine saves and a pair of combined shutouts. The Seven Springs product struck out 51 batters over his 26 relief appearances and has walked just six batters over his last 39 innings of work. He surrendered just 13 hits in as many appearances (23.0 innings) against conference foes and retired the sides in order in 18 innings from the hill.
Isom, a Liberty native, booked a team-best 15 starts last season en route to a 10-4 campaign with a 3.14 ERA and three combined shutouts. He struck out 70 batters and walked just 23 in a team-high 91-2/3 innings from the hill and held opponents to a paltry .256 batting average. Isom registered seven quality starts across the 2011 campaign and struck out six or more batters on five occasions, including logging a career-best 10 strikeouts in an 8-4 win over Flagler on March 13.
DeLoatch, a Greenville native, was an all-state standout at D.H. Conley High School for head coach Jason Mills. He also played summer ball with the Dirtbags and head coach Andy Partin in Sedalia.
2012 ABCA/Rawlings Preseason All-Americans & Watch Lists (Southeast Region Only)
