COLUMBUS, Ga. - Lander's Chris Thomas was selected the Peach Belt Conference's Pitcher of the Year and three other Bearcats were named to the All-PBC team, which was announced Tuesday night at a banquet at Columbus State University on the eve of the PBC Tournament.
Senior shortstop AJ Nunziato and utility player Patrick Grady were also named to the first team, while first baseman Jordan Owens made the second team. Nunziato and Grady were also recently named to the PBC Baseball All-Academic Team.
Thomas, a junior from Chester, S.C., was selected the PBC Pitcher of the Week three times in 2012 as Lander set a school record for wins in a season with 34. The right-hander was 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA this season in 13 starts. He led the league with two shutouts, both coming against conference opponents as he tossed a two-hitter against North Georgia on April 29 and a four-hitter against Flagler the week before that. He is ranked in the PBC's top five in complete games, ERA and strikeouts with 79. His 2.09 ERA in league play was best among all conference pitchers. Thomas becomes the first Bearcat ever to earn any of the big three annual awards (player, pitcher or freshman of the year).
Nunziato, South Setauket, N.Y., led the Bearcats in batting with a .373 average and a team-best 46 runs scored, six home runs, four triples, 18 doubles and 45 RBI. In PBC statistics, Nunziato ranked second in doubles and triples, third in total bases (71), fourth in slugging percentage (.592), and fifth in batting average.
Grady, a sophomore from Pompano Beach, Fla., who played numerous positions, including pitcher, batted .331 with 44 runs scored, five home runs, nine doubles, 35 RBI and had a 1-3 record on the mound with 24 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. In PBC statistics, Grady was first in hit by pitch (29) and on-base percentage (.521), and second in walks (38).
Owens, a senior from Inman, S.C., batted .303 with a team-leading nine home runs and 53 RBI, while posting 40 runs scored, one triple and 12 doubles. In PBC statistics, Owens was third in home runs, fourth in RBI, and seventh in sacrifice flies (5).
