Wednesday, February 01, 2012

MACON, Ga. (Feb. 1, 2012) – After earning ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region honors last season, ETSU senior Dylan Pratt (Johnson City, Tenn.) was a unanimous selection for the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team, the league office announced on Wednesday. In addition, junior Derek Bushey (Richmond, Va.) was named Atlantic Sun Preseason Pitcher of the Year in the fan voting on Facebook.

Pratt finished 2011 with a .311 average and was second on the squad with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs. Following the season, Pratt participated in the TD AMERITRADE College Home Run Derby at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

Meanwhile, Pratt was only one of four student-athletes that were unanimous selections to the all-conference squad. He was named to the team as a designated hitter.

Adam Brett Walker of Jacksonville was named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches, while Stetson’s Kurt Schluter was named Pitcher of the Year. Walker joined Pratt, Dylan Craig of Belmont and Dan Gulbransen of Jacksonville as the only unanimous selections to the team.

Bushey, who was a 2011 All-Atlantic Sun selection, went 6-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 17 appearances last year. He tossed three complete games, while striking out 66 on the year. He was also named Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week and Southeast Pitcher of the Week from College Baseball Insider after tossing a complete game two-hit shutout against N.C. State on May 8.

In the fan voting, Bushey beat out Jacksonville’s Steve Eagerton for the top spot. Bushey tallied 210 votes, while Eagerton followed with 143 votes. Brandon Love of Mercer (118 votes), Chase Brookshire of Belmont (46), Matt Hamann of Belmont (33), David Teasley of Mercer (28), Kurt Schluter of Stetson (27) and Lindsey Caughel of Stetson (4) were also in the running for Preseason Pitcher of the Year in the fan voting. Love, Hamann and Teasley were also selected to the all-conference team.  

Craig was named Preseason Player of the Year in the fan voting as he edged out Ronnie Freeman of Kennesaw State. Both players were named to the preseason all-conference team.

Stetson led the way with four selections on the all-conference team. Along with Schluter, Robert Crews, Ben Carhart and Mark Jones were also on the squad. Kennesaw State outfielder Aaron Hobbs rounded out the all-conference team.

ETSU opens its season with a three-game set at home against Eastern Kentucky beginning on Friday, February 17.

For more information on ETSU baseball, please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the baseball link.

Atlantic Sun Conference 2012 Baseball Preseason Honors and Awards

Preseason Player of the Year: Adam Brett Walker, Jacksonville

Fan Voted Preseason Player of the Year: Dylan Craig, Belmont

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kurt Schluter, Stetson

Fan Voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year:  Derek Bushey, ETSU

Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team

Pos.     Name                                       School

C          Ronnie Freeman            Kennesaw State                             

1B*      Adam Brett Walker         Jacksonville                           

2B        Robert Crews                 Stetson                        

3B        Ben Carhart                   Stetson                            

SS        Mark Jones                    Stetson                        

OF*      Dylan Craig                    Belmont                                  

OF*      Dan Gulbransen            Jacksonville                              

OF        Aaron Dobbs                Kennesaw State                 

DH*        Dylan Pratt                     ETSU                                

SP        Kurt Schluter                 Stetson                         

SP        Matt Hamann                Belmont                                     

SP        Brandon Love                Mercer                                

SP        David Teasley                Mercer                            

*- Unanimous Choice