Wednesday, May. 21, 2008

Smoak leads USC's all-SEC honorees

As he probably nears the end of his college career, Justin Smoak continues to be honored for his best season.

The USC star first baseman was named by the league’s 12 coaches to the All-SEC first team on Tuesday. Three Gamecocks were named to the second team: junior third baseman James Darnell, junior shortstop Reese Havens and senior designated hitter Phil Disher.

Smoak, a junior, was a second-team selection last year. He enters the SEC tournament with 20 homers and 61 RBIs, and his .407 batting average during SEC play was the best in the league.

Smoak is one of 16 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded to the top player in college baseball. He is expected to be picked in the top 10 of next month's major league draft.

Center fielder Whit Merrifield was named to the all-freshman team. He is hitting .319 and led the SEC in sacrifices hits with 20.

Georgia dominated the team. Shortstop Gordon Beckham was a unanimous pick as player of the year, as well as scholar-athlete of the year. Senior Joshua Fields was named the best pitcher, and David Perno was picked as coach of the year. Auburn's Hunter Morris was freshman of the year.

— Seth Emerson

A list of All-SEC teams, honors

All-SEC teams and awards voted on by the league’s 12 coaches:

SEC Player of the Year: Gordon Beckham, Georgia

SEC Pitcher of the Year: Joshua Fields, Georgia

SEC Freshman of the Year: Hunter Morris, Auburn

SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Gordon Beckham, Georgia

SEC Coach of the Year: David Perno, Georgia

unanimous selection

FIRST TEAM

1B — Justin Smoak, South Carolina

2B — Josh Adams, Florida; Ryan Wilkes, Kentucky

3B — Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt; Logan Forsythe, Arkansas

SS — Gordon Beckham, Georgia

C — Bryce Massanari, Georgia

OF — Collin Cowgill, Kentucky; Sawyer Carroll, Kentucky; Matt den Dekker, Florida; Brandon May, Alabama; David Macias, Vanderbilt

DH — Alex Avila, Alabama

P — Patrick Keating, Florida; Chris Rusin, Kentucky

RP — Joshua Fields, Georgia

SECOND TEAM

1B — Hunter Morris, Auburn

2B — Alex Feinberg, Vanderbilt

3B — James Darnell, South Carolina

SS — Ryan Flaherty, Vanderbilt; Reese Havens, S. Carolina

C — Yan Gomes, Tennessee

OF — Avery Barnes, Florida; Dominic de la Osa, Vanderbilt; Kentrail Davis, Tennessee

DH — Phil Disher, South Carolina

P — Lance Lynn, Mississippi; Trevor Holder, Georgia; Stephen Dodson, Georgia

RP — Scott Bittle, Mississippi

ALL FRESHMAN TEAM

1B — Hunter Morris, Auburn

2B — Josh Adams, Florida

3B — David Cunningham, Auburn

SS — Josh Rutledge, Alabama

C — Micah Gibbs, LSU

OF — Kentrail Davis, Tennessee; Whit Merrifield, South Carolina; Brian Fletcher, Auburn

DH — P.J. Polk, Tennessee

P — Drew Pomeranz, Mississippi; Grant Dayton, Auburn

RP — Russell Brewer, Vanderbilt

ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM

P — Jared Bradford, LSU

1B — Rich Poythress, Georgia

2B — Ryan Wilkes, Kentucky

SS — Reese Havens, South Carolina

3B — Jake Smith, Alabama

C — Brett Basham, Mississippi

OF — Matt den Dekker, Florida; Collin Cowgill, Kentucky; David Macias, Vanderbilt

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