AIKEN, S.C. - USC Aiken head baseball coach Kenny Thomas
announced recently the hiring of former Pacer All-American Nick
Wandless as an assistant coach.
Wandless has been a volunteer with the program for the past two
seasons. Thomas offered him the part-time assistant position to
replace Mark Conner.
A few weeks ago, Conner took a position with the San Diego
Padres as an Area Scout. Conner is in charge of scouting operations
for the Padres in the Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Eastern Indiana
areas.
"Nick was the perfect fit," noted Thomas. "He played here, he
has been a volunteer assistant here the past couple of years; we
are just very fortunate that with such a quick turnaround before
the season that we were able to bring him in and that he was still
available. It is great because he knows our system and how we
practice. I cannot think of a better situation."
Wandless was a four-year letterwinner with the Pacers (2003-06).
He graduated from USC Aiken with a degree in History.
His best season for the Pacers came as a senior in 2006 when he
was chosen a first team All-American by both the American Baseball
Coaches Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association.
A three-time Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, Wandless
was selected to the PBC All-Conference team in 2006.
For his efforts during his collegiate career, Wandless was
drafted in the 36th Round by the Cincinnati Reds. He
played for two years in the Reds minor league system.
The 2010 USC Aiken baseball team was tabbed as the preseason
favorite in the Peach Belt Conference in a poll of the league's
baseball coaches released on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The Pacers received eight of a possible 11 first-place votes to
finish at 114, just ahead of Francis Marion (111) in second place.
North Georgia is third in the preseason poll followed by GCSU,
Columbus State and UNC Pembroke.
USC Aiken enters the 2010 season as a top 10 preseason selection
in both the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II
preseason poll and the Ping!Baseball NCAA Division II preseason
poll. The Pacers check in at No. 9 in the Ping!Baseball preseason
poll. The Pacers were slotted as the No. 6 team in the 2010
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II preseason
poll released in late December of 2009.
The 2010 Pacers begin their season with a three-game home series
against the South Atlantic Conference's Lincoln Memorial. USC
Aiken's regular season opener will be at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5
against the Railsplitters. The three-game set will conclude with 1
p.m. games on Saturday (Feb. 6) and Sunday (Feb. 7).
