FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 29, 2010

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

Five Tigers Named All Conference, Coach Sims Awarded Coach of the Year

The Georgia Junior College Athletic Association released the All Conference teams for 2010 on Tuesday, April 27, and South Georgia College had five Tigers on the list. In addition, SGC head coach Scott Sims was named Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to a 37-19 season, finishing second place in the regular season standings.

Second baseman Stuart Drew, a sophomore from Douglas, was SGC’s lone First Team selection. Drew played in 54 games this season and led the team in hitting with a .410 batting average and .477 on-base percentage. He also hit two home runs and drove in 37 runs. His .963 fielding percentage was among the best on the 2010 Tigers’ squad. Drew has signed a scholarship with West Georgia University, where he will continue his playing career.

Four Tigers – Josh Palmer (outfield), Logan Gaines (designated hitter), David Reid-Foley (catcher) and David O’Neal (closer) – were named to All Conference Second Team. Palmer, a sophomore right fielder from Jesup, hit .345 with four home runs and 37 RBI. Gaines, a freshman from Augusta, finished second on the team in home runs (7) and fourth in batting (.359). He also drove in 51 runs and led the Tigers with a .605 slugging percentage. Reid-Foley, a freshman who was an All State player back home in Jacksonville, Fla., appeared in 45 games and finished the season with a .360 batting average, third best on the team. He only made three errors behind the plate and worked very well with an SGC pitching staff that finished the season with a 5.49ERA. O’Neal, a freshman from Blackshear, made 21 appearances and ended the campaign with a 3-1 record and 3.53 ERA, tops among Tiger hurlers who pitched in 20 or more games. O’Neal also had two saves.

Coach Sims received Coach of the Year honors for skippering the Tigers to a 37-win season, SGC’s best in several years. The Tigers had a 10-game winning streak at one point during the season, and won 10 out of their last 13 games – including a three-game sweep of the first-place Middle Georgia Warriors to close the season.

First baseman Wesley Morris (one error, .995 fielding percentage) and pitcher Greg Fietsam (zero errors) also won Gold Glove awards. Included below is a complete list of the All Conference award winners:

1st Team All Conference
OF: Matt Lowery, Young Harris; TD Davis, Georgia Perimeter; Kelly Williams, Gordon

C: Blake McCullers, Georgia Perimeter

DH: Josh Purvis, Middle Georgia

INF: John Hester, Middle Georgia; Stuart Drew, South Georgia; Drew Shields, Darton; Javy Sujo, Middle Georgia; TJ Rich, Middle Georgia

P: Mitchell Knox, Young Harris; Alan Busentiz, Georgia Perimeter

Closer: Casey Shiver, Gordon

2nd Team All Conference
OF: Chris Holloway, YHC; Chase Raffield, Gordon; Josh Palmer, South Georgia

C: David Reid-Foley, South Georgia

DH: Logan Gaines, South Georgia

INF: Andy Almonte, Gordon; Aaron Dobbs, Gordon; Jamie McMillan, Georgia Perimeter; Tagg Lanier, Darton

P: Zack Smith, Middle Georgia; Kevin Bibbler, Darton

Closer: David O’Neal, South Georgia

Gold Gloves:
C: Blake McCullers, Georgia Perimeter
1B: Wesley Morris, South Georgia
2B: JR Van Wie, Andrew
3B: Drew Shields, Darton
SS: John Duran, Darton
OF: Matt Lowery, Young Harris
OF: Darnell Duckett, Darton
OF: Chandler Hall, Middle Georgia
P: Greg Fietsam, South Georgia

Coach of the Year: Scott Sims, South Georgia
Player of the Year: John Hester, Middle Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Lowery, Young Harris

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty.