ROCK HILL, SC -- Coastal Carolina University, Elon University and Charleston Southern University took home all of the top baseball awards, which were presented today, along with the All-Conference and All-Academic Teams, as part of the 2002 Venture Industries Big South Conference Baseball Championship (presented by Palmetto Utility Protection Service).
Coastal Carolina’s Justin Owens was named the 2002 Most Valuable Player and Charleston Southern pitcher R.J. Swindle was tabbed as the Rookie of the Year. Elon’s Jim Swenson was named the Scholar-Athlete for baseball. Gary Gilmore from Coastal Carolina earned Coach of the Year for taking his team to its third 40-win season in four years.
The MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and All-Conference teams are chosen by the head baseball coaches and sports information directors at each. The All-Academic Team and Baseball Scholar-Athlete are chosen by the League’s sports information directors.
The 2002 Venture Industries Big South Conference Baseball Championship began today at The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill, S.C. The eight-team double elimination tournament will conclude Sunday with the winner earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Every game of the championships can be viewed via live StatCasts. A real-time display of statistics and play-by-play, the StatCast allows Big South baseball fans to follow each pitch of the 2002 Championship. The live StatCasts will be available at BigSouthSports.com.
Big South Conference Baseball Awards Winners
All-Academic Team
Jon Prince, Birmingham-Southern College
Jeff Kolhagen, Charleston Southern University
Randy McGarvey, Jr., Coastal Carolina University
Jim Swenson, Elon University
Kevin Burch, High Point University
Marcus Maringola, Liberty University
Cory Kolisack, Radford University
Steven Cook, UNC Asheville
Jeff Reeves, Winthrop University
First Team All-Conference
Outfield
Ryan McGraw, Coastal Carolina University
Whit Bryant, Elon University
Marcus Maringola, Liberty University
First Base
Justin Owens, Coastal Carolina University
Second Base
Larry Wayne York, Liberty University
Third Base
Matt Hagen, Liberty University
Shortstop
Joey Monahan, Liberty University
Catcher
Randy McGarvey, Jr., Coastal Carolina University
Designated Hitter
Adrian Vanderburg, Charleston Southern University
Pitcher
Steven Carter, Coastal Carolina University
Justin Sturge, Coastal Carolina University
Second Team All-Conference
Outfield
Jordan Haar, Charleston Southern University
Jason Tuttle, Elon University
Stephen Baker, Liberty University
First Base
Kelly Knouse, Liberty University
Second Base
Brandon Powell, Coastal Carolina University
Third Base
Todd Leathers, Winthrop University
Shortstop
Adam Keim, Coastal Carolina University
Catcher
Stas Swerdzewski, Winthrop University
Designated Hitter
Ryan Thiede, High Point University
Pitcher
Matt Garner, Elon University
Jason Jones, Liberty University
Rookie of the Year
R.J. Swindle, Charleston Southern University
Most Valuable Player
Justin Owens, Coastal Carolina University
Coach of the Year
Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina University
Baseball Scholar-Athlete
Jim Swenson, Elon University
--100 Years of Elon Baseball--
