Lee senior first baseman Ben Holland has been named the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year as voted on by the GSC coaches and sports information directors.
Holland will lead the Flames into conference tournament play of Saturday at 4 p.m. (EDT) against top-seeded West Florida. The double-elimination tourney will be held on the campus of West Florida in Pensacola.
The native of Murfreesboro, Tenn. hit .417 (70-for-168) in the regular season and paced the Gulf South Conference in homeruns (17), total bases (144), slugging percentage (.857) and on-base percentage (.528).
His OBP was good for fifth in all of NCAA Division II, while his 23 doubles ranked him second in the GSC and sixth in NCAA DII. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native was also third in the league in hits and runs (54) and fourth in batting average and runs brought in (49).
The big first baseman posted a season-best 22-game hitting streak 3/6-4/16, in which he racked up eight multi-hit performances, including 14 RBI, 11 doubles and three homeruns.
"What a season and an honor for Ben in our first season of being eligible for post-season play in the Gulf South," said coach Mark Brew after learning of the honor. "Ben has had one of the best offensive seasons I have witnessed in my 20 years at Lee and I am happy that he was rewarded for it as GSC Player of the Year."
Lee senior shortstop Luke Toms earned a GSC First-Team spot. Toms, who has developed into an outstanding defensive shortstop, also enjoyed outstanding numbers at the plate. He hit .333 with 15 homeruns, 10 doubles and a team-leading 50 RBI.
"Luke really came on strong for us the later two-thirds of the season and provided Ben with some great protection," noted coach Brew. "He has also played a very solid shortstop for us.. Art (Vidiro) and Trent )Hill) have had very good years on the mound and I believe Trent could just have easily have been an all-conference outfielder. Overall I thought it was great recognition for these guys and the seasons they had and I am proud of them."
Hill and Vidrio are listed as pitchers of the All-GSC Second Team. On the mound Hill has 6 wins and 2 defeats. He registered a 2.83 earned-run average. He was also a regular in the outfield when the lefty was not pitching, posting a .367 batting average with 17 doubles, seven homeruns and 43 RBI.
Vidrio is the workhorse for the Lee pitching staff. He went to the hill for 76.1 innings. The junior left-hander recorded a 6-3 won-loss mark with a 3.30 ERA, walking 20 hitters and fanning 69.
Tre Hobbs (Delta State) is the GSC Pitcher of the Year. Alabama Huntsville's Taylor Clemons is listed as the Freshman of the Year while West Florida's Mike Jeffcoat is the GSC Coach of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
C – Kevin Hall, North Alabama
DH – Taylor Hayes, North Alabama
1B – Ben Holland, Lee
2B – Trent Giambrone, Delta State
3B – Mitch Holgate, West Alabama
SS – Luke Toms, Lee
SS – Alex Greene, West Florida *
SS – Caleb Lopes, West Florida *
OF – Dalton Duty, Valdosta State
OF – Garrett Hayes, West Georgia
OF – Will Robertson, Delta State
OF – Austin Sanders, Alabama Huntsville
SP – Wilson Adams, Alabama Huntsville
SP – Evan Anderson, West Alabama
SP – Brandon Goldsmith, West Georgia
SP – JT Granat, West Florida
SP – Tre Hobbs, Delta State
RP – Jarrod Petree, West Florida
SECOND TEAM
C – Jack Cockrum, West Alabama
C – Kyle Hamner, West Florida
C – AJ Walden, Alabama Huntsville
1B – Dalton Rogers, West Georgia
2B – Nic Strasser, West Florida
3B – Ethan Gill, Delta State
3B – Robert Lopez, West Florida
3B – Matt Spruill, Alabama Huntsville
SS – Dylan Little, West Alabama
OF – Dylan Calhoun, North Alabama
OF – Nick Delgado, West Alabama
OF – Jean Figueroa, West Florida
OF – Tyler Hutch, West Georgia
SP – Trenton Hill, Lee
SP – Evan Miller, West Alabama
SP – Dalton Moats, Delta State
SP – Walker O'Connor, West Florida
SP – Riley Sanderson, North Alabama
SP – Art Vidrio, Lee
RP – Taylor Clemons, Alabama Huntsville
*--Next highest infielder