AUGUSTA, Ga. – USC Aiken's Nick Aranas and Bill Rice were both chosen to the 2010 Peach Belt Conference All-Conference first team it was announced by the conference office on Thursday, May 6.

Aranas was tabbed to the first team as a designated hitter, while Rice was chosen to the first team as an outfielder.

A native of Lexington, S.C., Aranas finished the regular season leading the Pacers with a .426 (81-for-190) batting average. The batting average was in the top three in the Peach Belt Conference during the regular season. In total, Aranas finished the 2010 regular season in the top 15 in the Peach Belt Conference in six categories. 

Aranas was also second best among all Pacers with 53 RBIs and 46 runs scored during the regular season. He was second on the squad in the 2010 regular season in total bases as well with 126. Aranas slugged a team second-best .663 and had a team-high on-base percentage of .491.

Aranas captured a team-high 28 multiple hit games in 2010, including 20 two-hit games. He was second on the squad during the regular season in multiple RBI games with 14. Aranas was second on the squad with 24 extra-base knocks. He had a team-high 12 doubles to go along with three triples and nine home runs

The Lexington High School product owned the team season-high hitting streak, securing a hit in 14 consecutive games at one point during the regular season.

Rice concluded his first season in a Pacer uniform with a team-high 15 home runs. The 15 home runs are good for second in the Peach Belt Conference. Rice in total finished the 2010 regular season in the top 11 in the Peach Belt Conference in 11 different categories.
 
Rice ended the regular season hitting a team second-best .374 (74-for-198). He was tops among all Pacers in 2010 during the regular season with 66 RBIs and 55 runs scored. Rice was also the team leader in total bases (138).
 
The junior transfer out of Gloucester County College ended the year with a team-best .697 slugging percentage and a team second-best .442 on-base percentage. He stole 13 bases and finished the regular season with 118 putouts.
 
Rice was tops among all Pacers in multiple RBI games with 18. He was second on the squad in multi-hit games with 24. Rice was tops among all Pacers with 30 extra base hits on the 15 home runs, 11 doubles and four triples.
 
The Sewell, N.J. native, who was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 22, 2010, broke the school record for most home runs in a single game with three in a win over Georgia Southwestern. He was 5-for-5 with seven RBIs and four runs scored overall in the game.

Columbus State's Jason Rogers was named the PBC Player of the Year while North Georgia's Chris Rearick was tabbed the Pitcher of the Year.  Francis Marion's Don Sandifer was named the Freshman of the Year with GCSU coach Tom Carty winning the Coach of the Year honors. 

Peach Belt Conference Tournament host USC Aiken will next play in the final game of the opening day of the championship on Saturday at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. 

The fourth seed in the PBC East, USC Aiken will open the PBC Tournament against PBC regular season champion and West No. 1 seed Georgia College & State at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 8 at the 'Bert.

The 2010 All-Conference team is listed below, as selected by the league's head coaches.  Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
 

2010 Peach Belt Conference
All-Conference Team
First Team
1b – Jason Rogers, Columbus State
2b - Jason Venya, GCSU
3b – Jordan Erisman, North Georgia
SS – Barrett Kleinknecht, Francis Marion
C – Richard Pirkle, GCSU
OF – Kyle Allen, GCSU
OF – Sean Harrell, GCSU
OF – Bill Rice, USC Aiken
OF – Shawn Ward, GCSU
DH – Nick Aranas, USC Aiken
UT – Seth Kivett, UNC Pembroke
SP – Martin Dewald, GCSU
SP – Matt McGovern, UNC Pembroke
SP – Chris Rearick, North Georgia
SP – Don Sandifer, Francis Marion
RP – Brian Willis, UNC Pembroke

Second Team
1b – Chris Sosebee, Montevallo
2b – Andre Airich, North Georgia
3b – Robert Skinner, Lander
SS – Cale Owen, Flagler
C – John Roberts, Armstrong Atlantic State
OF – Kevin Garcia, Montevallo
OF – Bud Long, Georgia Southwestern
OF – Kenny Mickens, UNC Pembroke
OF – Chad Sage, North Georgia
DH – John Sgromolo, Flagler
UT – Tony Baker, Augusta State
SP – Jonathan Armold, Flagler
SP – Thomas Campbell, Columbus State
SP – Blake Hobby, North Georgia
SP – Eric Pettepher, GCSU
RP – Brandon Forshee, Francis Marion

Player of the Year
Jason Rogers, Columbus State
Pitcher of the Year
Chris Rearick, North Georgia
Freshman of the Year
Don Sandifer, Francis Marion
Coach of the Year
Tom Carty, GCSU