MVP
RJ Neal a freshman centerfielder from Boynton Beach, FL was voted MVP by his fellow teammates after a very successful year.
Neal played 50 out of the 54 game schedule, with only six errors. Neal had and outstanding 94 PO, 106 catches, and 6 assists.
He also quickly became the “clutch” hitter . With 191 at bats, 42 runs, 71 hits, 15 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 44 RBI’s and a slugging average 0.560, and batting average 0.372, it’s safe to say the Sand Sharks can expect great things from RJ in the seasons to come.
Pitcher of the Year
Jared Campbell came to USCB as a junior transfer from Florida College where he was name the 2007 pitcher of the year.
Jared pitched his way through 73.1 innings over 14 games to earn a 3-4 record with a n ERA of 4.30.
This summer Jared will be pitching in Hawaii, and will be returning to USCB this fall.
Spoon Award
The Spoon Award is given each year in honor of former player and Coach Jim Spooner. Coach Spooner played at Edison CC and Florida State University before embarking on an extremely successful coaching career in which he earned over 700 victories. 688 of those victories came in his 24 years at the University of West Florida where the stadium is now named in his honor. Although Coach Spooner lost his battle with cancer in the fall of 2008, his spirit and inspiration continue to impact his close friend Coach Sofield and the USCB program as a whole. The winner of the Spoon Award is the Sand Shark who best exemplifies the traits that made Coach Spooner so successful on the field and so revered off it. The award winner must be an extremely hard worker who displays ultra-competitiveness, while at the same time showing good sportsmanship and compassion for those around him. He willingly sacrifices himself for the good of the team and has an unbelievable passion and respect for the game of baseball. In short, the winner of the Spoon Award epitomizes the type of player we want to wear the Sand Shark uniform and represent the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
It is a real honor to be awarded the Spoon Award; both recipients were voted by their teammates.
Nolan Fuller is a freshman, middle infielder from Smyrna, NY. Nolan “Norm” was very dedicated to the baseball program, although he only one at bat this season, he was a major contributor on the bases, scoring 6 runs, and coaching first base.
Zach Rossetti a junior transfer from Jupiter, FL started at either 3rd or short stop in almost every game. Zach embodies what is means to be a Sand Shark.
Both Nolan and Zach will be returning in the fall.