SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Elon junior right-handed pitcher John Brebbia was recognized as the 2011 Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and earned first-team All-Southern Conference accolades from the league's media members on Tuesday.  Also honored with second-team all-league distinction were senior shortstop Neal Pritchard and freshman second baseman Sebastian Gomez.

Brebbia becomes the second Elon pitcher to claim SoCon Pitcher of the Year honors, joining 2008 honoree Steven Hensley.

Brebbia was a perfect 7-0 on the season with a 1.83 ERA in 39.1 innings of work, holding opponents to a .152 batting average. A Chatham, Mass. native, Brebbia fanned 35 batters against only eight walks.  He also notched three saves.  He was even better in SoCon play, surrendering just three earned runs in 27.2 innings, which was good enough for a 0.98 ERA.

Pritchard earned the second all-league accolade of his career after hitting .306 with eight doubles, a triple, eight homers and 39 RBI for the SoCon regular season champion Phoenix.  Against league competition, the Asheboro, N.C. native batted .340 with five doubles, one triple, six home runs and 27 RBI.  The 27 RBI rated eighth in the league in conference contests as did his six long balls.

Gomez, a native of Miramar, Fla., ranked in a tie for 10th in SoCon-only games with a .359 batting average and fifth with a .463 on-base percentage on his way to garnering the first all-league honor of his career.  Overall this season, Gomez leads the Phoenix with a .318 batting average.  In 47 games, he also has scored 30 times, has six doubles, a triple, two homers, 27 RBI and is a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen base attempts.

The Phoenix will open its quest for the 2011 SoCon Tournament title on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. against eighth-seeded Western Carolina.