New Orleans, La. – Coastal Carolina Baseball had four student-athletes recognized by the Sun Belt Conference on Monday, highlighted by Darin Horn earning First Team All-Sun Belt honors.
Horn was joined by Rex Watson on the All-Sun Belt Second Team, while freshmen Case Bosch and Jackson Smallets were each named to the All-Sun Belt Freshman Team.
Horn has emerged as one of the top relievers in the Sun Belt Conference this season, posting a 7-1 record with seven saves and a 3.17 ERA across 27 appearances. The redshirt senior recorded 81 strikeouts over 59.2 innings pitched while helping anchor a Coastal Carolina pitching staff that battled injuries throughout the season. Horn became just the second pitcher in Division I baseball this season to record at least seven wins and seven saves while ranking among the Sun Belt leaders in saves, ERA, appearances, and strikeouts per nine innings.
Watson earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors after leading Coastal Carolina in home runs (12), RBIs (61), total bases (109), and slugging percentage (.556). The sophomore outfielder finished the regular season batting .289 with 57 hits, 14 doubles, a triple, and 10 stolen bases while delivering multiple clutch moments throughout the season, including a walk-off grand slam against ECU.
Bosch was named to the All-Sun Belt Freshman Team after posting a 3-0 record with a 3.31 ERA across 15 appearances during his freshman campaign. The left-hander recorded 34 strikeouts over 35.1 innings.
Smallets also earned All-Sun Belt Freshman Team honors after making 14 appearances, including 10 starts during his freshman season. The right-hander posted a 4.54 ERA over 35.2 innings pitched while recording 26 strikeouts.
Coastal Carolina finished the regular season with a 36-19 overall record and earned the No. 2 seed in this week's Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship in Montgomery, Ala.
Player of the Year
Jimmy Janicki, Troy (So., C – Downers Grove, Ill.)
Pitcher of the Year
Grayden Harris, Southern Miss (So., LHP – Central, La.)
Newcomer of the Year
Gage Peterson, App State (Jr., RHP – Jonesborough, Tenn.)
Freshman of the Year
Brady Christman, Georgia Southern (Fr., C/OF – Forsyth, Ga.)
Tony Robichaux Leadership Award
Bryce Blevins, Marshall (Sr., LHP – Louisa, Ky.)
Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Christian Ostrander, Southern Miss
All-Sun Belt First Team
P Gage Peterson, App State
P Camden Clark, Southern Miss
P Grayden Harris, Southern Miss
RP Darin Horn, Coastal Carolina
C Jimmy Janicki, Troy
1B Matthew Russo, Southern Miss
2B Kyle Morrison, Southern Miss
SS Steven Smith, App State
3B Wills Maginnis, Georgia State
OF Evan Bottone, Marshall
OF Davis Gillespie, Southern Miss
OF Aaron Piasecki, Troy
DH Brady Christman, Georgia Southern
UT Drew Nelson, Troy
All-Sun Belt Second Team
P Cody Brasch, Louisiana
P Andrew Herrmann, Louisiana
P Bryce Blevins, Marshall
RP Colby Allen, Southern Miss
C Colt Brown, Louisiana
1B Derek Martinez, Arkansas State
2B Brennon Wright, South Alabama
SS Will Johnson, Old Dominion
3B Stewart Puckett, South Alabama
OF Charlie Evans, App State
OF Rex Watson, Coastal Carolina
OF Rashawn Galloway, Texas State
DH Manny Salas, Texas State
UT Jaquae Stewart, Texas State
All-Sun Belt Freshman Team
Colton Denton, App State
Derek Martinez, Arkansas State
Case Bosch, Coastal Carolina
Jackson Smallets, Coastal Carolina
Brady Christman, Georgia Southern
Bennett Edwards, Georgia Southern
Colt Brown, Louisiana
Noah Lewis, Louisiana
Sawyer Pruitt, Louisiana
Blaze Rodriguez, Louisiana
Garett Wiethorn, ULM
Ben Tanton, Old Dominion
Jackson Cotton, Texas State
Clayton Namken, Texas State
