Senior catcher Kris Rochelle was one of three Charlotte 49ers on the 2007 NCCSIA All-State Baseball Team. |
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Charlotte Lands Three on All-State Baseball Squad
June 6, 2007
Wilmington, N.C. -
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Twelve student-athletes, representing seven different schools, comprise the 2007 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State Baseball Team released Tuesday.
The fourth-annual team consists of NCAA Division I student-athletes from North Carolina colleges and universities. North Carolina sports information professionals submitted the nominees and NCCSIA members voted for the all-state teams, which consist of two pitchers, one catcher, four infielders, three outfielders and one designated player.
Duke University led the way with four students on the team, including Second Team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Pitcher Tony Bajoczky. NCAA playoff participant Charlotte placed three students on the team. Individuals from UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina University, Appalachian State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Davidson College filled out the 2007 all-state squad.
Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from North Carolina's NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions for the purpose of promoting college athletics in the state. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina whose responsibilities include sports information.
NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the university (NCAA Division I) and college (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball and baseball. Over 450 studentathletes have been recognized on all-state teams since 2003.
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2007 NCCSIA All-State Baseball Team (University Division) Pos. Name Class School Hometown C Kris Rochelle Senior Charlotte Richmond, Va. IF Nate Freiman Sophomore Duke Wellesley, Mass. IF Charlie Gamble* Senior N.C. A&T St. Pleasant Garden, N.C. IF Steve Halford Sophomore UNC Wilmington Raleigh, N.C. IF Kenny Smith Senior Western Carolina Asheville, N.C. OF Brad McElroy Senior Charlotte St. Thomas, Ontario (Canada) OF Jimmy Gallagher Junior Duke Pittsburgh, Pa. OF David Rubenstein Sophomore Appalachian St. Charlotte, N.C. DH Rob Wilson Senior Davidson Charlotte, N.C. SP Tony Bajoczky Senior Duke Tallahassee, Fla. SP Adam Mills Senior Charlotte Big Pool, Md. RP Michael Seander Freshman Duke Pawtucket, R.I. * - 2006 NCCSIA All-State pick
Four Blue Devils made the all-state team, including senior right-hander Tony Bajoczky, a Second Team All-ACC selection. He went 9-3 and helped the Blue Devils improve their 2006 record by 14 games for a 29-25 mark. Sophomore infielder Nate Freiman rode a team-leading .369 batting average to a spot on the all-state roster. Rookie right-hander Michael Seander is the all-state closer after compiling nine saves and a 1.61 ERA in 28 appearances. He is also the team's lone freshman. Duke's Jimmy Gallagher, a junior outfielder, hit .360 with 20 doubles and 16 stolen bases.
Charlotte, which reached the championship game of last weekend's Columbia Regional, fashioned a school-best 49-12 mark in 2007 and landed three players on all-state squad: seniors Kris Rochelle, Adam Mills and junior Brad McElroy. Mills posted a 14-2 mark and a 1.01 earned run average while striking out 141 in 142.2 innings to pace a nationally-ranked pitching staff. Rochelle, a catcher, bolstered the 49ers' lineup with a team-leading .404 average while driving in 50 runs and hitting six home runs. McElroy anchored the outfield with his .401 batting average and topped the club with 11 home runs and 68 RBI.
Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year Kenny Smith helped lead Western Carolina to the championship game of the Chapel Hill Regional. Smith slammed a team-high 20 round trippers and tied the school record with 84 runs batted in.
North Carolina A&T senior Charlie Gamble earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year after hitting .409 and guiding the Aggies to the championship game of the MEAC tournament. Also a 2006 all-state pick, Gamble is the lone repeat selection to this year's team.
Sophomore infielder Steve Halford topped UNC Wilmington with his .352 average and shared the team lead with a career-high 21 doubles.
Appalachian State sophomore outfielder David Rubenstein became the Mountaineers' first baseball All-American after belting 19 homers and earning Third Team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball.
Rob Wilson, Davidson's senior designated hitter, led the Wildcats with a .387 batting average and connected on seven home runs. He landed First Team All-Southern Conference honors.
