SPARTANBURG, SC – UNC Greensboro senior Ricky Orton and junior Greg Martin have been named to the 2008 Coaches All-SoCon Team released Monday afternoon. Orton and Martin are two of 25 selected by the SoCon coaches to be placed on the all-conference teams.
Orton, a native of Bakersfield, CA was named to the second team as a first baseman. Earlier this season he was named to the 2008 Southern Conference Sports Media Association preseason second team as a first baseman and is a two-time 2008 Southern Conference Player of the Week. He is currently listed on the ballot for the 2008 Pro-Line Athletic North Carolina Baseball Writers Association All-American team and leads the Spartans with a .364 batting average. On March 23, he tied the UNCG single game record five walks, he became one of six Spartans to tally seven RBI in a single game on May 3, and the following day, he hit a single game record three home runs. He currently leads the UNCG lineup in home runs (15), RBI (58), total bases (136), slugging percentage (.697), walks (55), on base percentage (.502), and putouts (440) and holds season rankings in walks (1st), home runs (2nd),. doubles (5th), total bases (5th), and RBI (6th). In the career book he is listed at No. 8 with 21 career home runs and has had a hand in 46 of the team’s total 55 double plays.
A Chapel Hill, NC native, Martin was named to the conference second team as a pitcher. With a record of 7-3, he holds a team high ERA of 4.42 and has struck out 45 batters during his 79.1 innings of work. On March 2, he held UCONN silent from the mound with four Ks and zero walks and during the March 21 game against Appalachian State, he pitched a season high 7.2 innings with four strikeouts. He logged a personal best seven strikeouts during the April 4 game against Furman and again during the May 15 game against Davidson.
On Wednesday, UNCG will get back in action as they head to Charleston, SC for the 2008 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament. As the fifth-seed, the Spartans will take on fourth-seeded Georgia Southern.at 5 p.m. should The Citadel win opening round game or at 8 p.m. should Wofford win.
Tickets for the 2008 SoCon Tournament are $10 per day or $30 for the entire tournament and can be purchased at The Citadel Ticket Office at McAlister Field House or by calling (843) 953-DOGS. Fans may also purchase tickets at the gates of Riley Park.
For complete coverage of the 2008 SoCon Tournament, visit the SoCon Tournament Central page on CitadelSports.com. For more news on UNCG baseball, ticket prices, a complete season schedule, and all other Spartan athletic information log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com
# # UNCG # #
Player of the Year
Jeremie Tice (3B, COFC)
Pitcher of the Year
Steven Hensley (RHP, Elon)
Freshman of the Year
Thomas Girdwood (RHP, Elon)
Coach of the Year
Mike Kennedy (Elon)
Coaches All-SoCon Team
First Team
Catcher- Blake Murphy (WCU)
First Base- Michael Harrington (COFC)
Second Base- Brandon Sizemore (COFC)
Shortstop- Jason Altenhof (ASU)
Third Base- Jeremie Tice (COFC)
Outfield- Chris Shehan (GSU)
Outfield- Cory Harrilchak (Elon)
Outfield- Chris Swauger (CIT)
Designated Hitter- Ty Wright (GSU)
Pitcher- Jay Jackson (FUR)
Pitcher- Steven Hensley (Elon)
Relief Pitcher- Tom Girdwood (Elon)
Second Team
Catcher- Griffin Benedict (GSU)
First Base- Ricky Orton (UNCG)
Second Base- Nick Liles (WCU)
Shortstop- Michael Gilmartin (WOF)
Third Base- AJ Wirnsberger (GSU)
Outfield- Sonny Meade (CIT)
Outfield- David Rubenstein (ASU)
Outfield- David Richardson (GSU) and Gabe Marchant (COFC)
Designated Hitter- Reese Wade (FUR)
Pitcher- Greg Martin (UNCG)
Pitcher- Matt Andress (ASU)
Relief Pitcher- Nick Karow (FUR)