Baseball | January 27, 2023

AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of South Carolina Aiken baseball standout Joel Haney was named to the Preseason All-PBC Team, as announced by the league office Friday.

Haney, a right-handed pitcher from Rock Hill, S.C., picked up D2CCA and NCBWA all-region honors a season ago. The 2022 first-team all-PBC selection notched seven victories on the season.

Haney struck out a team-best 71 batters and was named the NCBWA Region Pitcher of the Week on March 15. He registered a scoreless streak that spanned over 35 innings. Additionally, his 2.39 ERA was second in the PBC. Haney posted two of USC Aiken's three shutouts on the year.

Head coach Michael Holder's team was selected eighth in the preseason poll with 48 points. Columbus State nabbed the top spot (100 points) while Young Harris (87 points) and Georgia College & State (75 points) rounded out the top three.

Georgia Southwestern and North Georgia (65 points apiece) tied for fourth while Flagler (55 points) and Lander (50 points) were just ahead of the Pacers. USC Beaufort (27 points), Augusta (23 points) and Claflin (10 points) rounded out the preseason poll.

The Pacers open the season with a three-game home series against Carson-Newman beginning Feb. 3 at 4 p.m.

Preseason Coaches Poll
 
1. Columbus State (10) 100
2. Young Harris 87
3. Georgia College & State University 75
t4. Georgia Southwestern 65
t4. North Georgia 65
6. Flagler 55
7. Lander 50
8. USC Aiken 48
9. USC Beaufort 27
10. Augusta 23
11. Claflin 10
 
Preseason All-Conference Team
 
1b - Steven Minter, Columbus State
2b - Ethan Underwood, Young Harris
3b - Jaiden Warde, Flagler
SS - Isaac Bouton, Columbus State
C - Gregory Wozniak, Georgia Southwestern
OF - Mark Castle, Young Harris
OF - Rome Wallace, Young Harris
OF - Derek Wylie, Columbus State
DH - Connor Droze, Lander
P - Joel Haney, USC Aiken
RP - Peyton Burton, Columbus State