WILMINGTON, NC - UNC Greensboro first baseman Ricky Orton has been named to the 12-person North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State team as a vote of Sports Information Directors across the state.
Orton, native of Bakersfield, CA, was picked in the 29th round by the Florida Marlins with the 868th overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this month. He ranks in the Top 10 in UNCG history in home runs. This past season, Orton led the team with a .359 batting average on his way to All-Southern Conference honors. He was tied for the team lead with 15 home runs, second most in a season in UNCG history, and drove in a team-best 59 runs. His 59 RBI were fifth most in a season at UNCG. He was also second on the team in doubles this season with 20 and led the team with a remarkable .502 on-base percentage – second-best in school history – thanks in part to a school-record 61 walks. In two seasons at UNCG, Orton amassed 132 hits in 382 at-bats.
The complete team is listed below.
North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association
2008 University Division All-State Baseball Team
Pos. Name Class School Hometown
SP Steven Hensley Junior Elon University Asheville, N.C.
SP Brad Holt Junior UNC Wilmington Albemarle, N.C.
RP Cameron Roth Freshman UNC Wilmington Poquoson, Va.
Mark Carver Senior UNC Wilmington Wendell, N.C.
IF Nate Freiman * Junior Duke University Boston, Mass.
IF Daniel Hargrave Senior UNC Wilmington Hurdle Mills, N.C.
IF Ricky Orton Senior UNC Greensboro Bakersfield, Calif.
IF Cory Shaylor Freshman Charlotte Charlotte, N.C.
OF Jason Appel Senior UNC Wilmington Plainview, N.Y.
OF Harrison Eldridge Senior East Carolina Knoxville, Tenn.
OF Cory Harrilchak Junior Elon University Cary, N.C.
DH Jeremy Jones Senior North Carolina A&T State Fayetteville,
N.C.
* - 2007 NCCSIA University Division All-State