Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University senior right-hander Tyler Almond (Oakboro, N.C.) and senior infielder Logan Isaacs (Raleigh, N.C.) earned First Team All-SAC honors, league officials announced Monday. Sophomore infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) was named to the second team.

Almond finished sixth in the SAC with a 3.98 ERA, fifth with a .254 opponents’ batting average, fourth with 68 strikeouts and third with 10.03 strikeouts per game. Almond struck out seven or more hitters in six of his nine starts on the season, while going 3-1 on the season. He struck out 10 while allowing only two hits in seven innings against Lenoir-Rhyne. He struck out a career-high 12 without allowing an earned run on three hits against Tusculum. Almond struck out 10 while allowing only two earned runs in eight innings against Newberry to earn the win.

Isaacs hit .376 for the Bulldogs with a team-best nine homers and 110 total bases to go with 30 RBI and 42 runs scored. He finished second on the team in hits, batting average and doubles, while stealing five bases in six attempts. Isaacs had 21 multi-hit games on the season, while collecting three or more hits eight times. He had a four-for-four game against Mars Hill and against UNC Pembroke. He had three hits including a homer against West Florida, while also hitting a homer and driving in three against Newberry.

Vazquez led the Bulldogs with a .391 batting average, 70 hits and 17 doubles. He was second on the team with 41 RBI and 108 total bases, third with 42 runs scored and fourth with seven homers. He had 23 multi-hit games on the year, including eight with three or more hits. Vazquez had a team-best 23 game hitting streak during the season. He had several key hits over the course of the year, including the go-ahead three-run double in the ninth at Lenoir-Rhyne. He added a grand slam the next day in another Wingate rally. Vazquez had five hits including a homer in the win at Newberry, scoring four times. He hit the game-tying grand slam with two outs in the last inning against Tusculum, helping the Bulldogs rally for the key SAC victory. Vazquez had a pair of homers in the win at Barton.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season 29-17 overall and 19-5 in the SAC. Wingate won its first regular season title since 2000, while the 19 conference victories are the second most in team history. The Bulldogs are the number one seed in the 2010 Food Lion SAC Tournament, which begins Thursday with Wingate taking on Lincoln Memorial at 12 p.m. 

2010 SAC BASEBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Catcher - Sean Cotten, Tusculum
Pitcher - Nathan Furr, Catawba
Pitcher - Trevor Mullins, Catawba
Pitcher - Tyler Almond, Wingate
Relief Pitcher - Wil Huneycutt, Catawba
1st base - Jared Richmond, Tusculum
2nd base - Logan Isaacs, Wingate
Shortstop - Mills Rogers, Carson-Newman
3rd base - Craige Lyerly, Catawba
Outfield - Wade Moore, Catawba
Outfield - Jeff Lockwood, Carson-Newman
Outfield - Mike Kitt, Mars Hill
Designated Hitter - Brian Dice, Lenoir-Rhyne

SECOND TEAM
Catcher - Rob Knight, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher - Austin Bridgewater, Carson-Newman
Pitcher - Tyler Collins, Tusculum
Pitcher - Justin Hall, Mars Hill
Relief Pitcher - Tony Hearrell, Mars Hill
1st base - Derek Long, Carson-Newman
2nd base - Payden Houser, Tusculum
Shortstop - Chris Vazquez, Wingate
3rd base - John Couch, Lincoln Memorial
Outfield - Nate Grabowski, Tusculum
Outfield - Cody Pack, Lincoln Memorial
Outfield - Evan Taylor, Lenoir-Rhyne
Designated Hitter - Sean Finucane, Tusculum

Player of the Year:  Jared Richmond, Tusculum

Pitcher of the Year:  Nathan Furr, Catawba

Freshman of the Year:  Garrett Furr, Catawba

Coach of the Year:  Dan Taylor, Mars Hill

Baseball Scholar-Athlete:  Derek Long, Carson-Newman