Chase Griffin Named Catcher of the Year
5/21/2012 8:55:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. - After leading all freshman in Division I in home runs for most of the season, Chase Griffin (Leesburg, Ga.) was named the Southern Conference's Freshman of the Year by a vote of the league's 11 coaches. Griffin is the fourth Eagle to earn the award and the first since Brett Lewis in 1999.
The freshman catcher was the first Georgia Southern freshman to hit 10 home runs in a season since Steve Walson hit 12 in 1996. Griffin is second on the team with a .306 batting average and has started in 46 games behind the plate.
One of four members of the Georgia Southern Baseball team selected to one of the two All-Conference Teams or the All-Freshman Team, Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) was tabbed to his fourth All-Conference Team.
Phillips, who set the school's all-time hits record last weekend, finished the regular season with a team-best .393 batting average, 21 doubles and 52 RBIs. The senior co-captain was selected to the First Team All-Conference Team at third base.
Joining the Freshman of the Year on the All-Freshman Team, Tyler Avera (Baxley, Ga.) finished the 2012 regular season with a .269 batting average in 52 starts. Avera, who showed good range at second base, struck out the second fewest times on the team and posted a .961 fielding percentage.
The Georgia Southern Baseball team will make its 21st-straight appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament on Wednesday. The Eagles will face Elon in their first game at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
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