From the Sports Information Department
Huntingdon College

April 29, 2008

Huntingdon Places Three on Baseball GSAC All-Conference Team

LAGRANGE, Ga. - Huntingdon senior first baseman Taylor Files and shortstop Adam Shipp, as well as junior pitcher Brad Vest, were all named to the Great South Athletic Conference All-Conference team, the league announced this weekend.

Freshman utility player Drew Harrell was also recognized by the conference on its All-Freshman Team.

A native of Gulf Shores, Ala, Files led the Hawks in nearly every offensive statistical category, while winning the team’s Triple Crown. Files finished his final season with a batting average of .371, hit six home runs and drove in 54 runs. He added 14 doubles, a mark which tied for the team lead, and 31 runs scored. Files tied for the team-lead with 16 multi-hit games and paced the squad with 14 multiple-RBI games. He also committed only five errors in more than 300 chances in the field.

In his lone season with the Hawks, Shipp provided both offensive production and defensive stability at the shortstop position. The Wetumpka, Ala., native, finished second on the squad in hitting with a .366 average, while adding seven doubles, three triples and two home runs. Shipp also chipped in 40 runs scored and drove in 26 runs. He added 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts, while leading the team in on-base percentage at a mark of .503.

Vest made 11 total appearances and six starts, flourishing in the starter’s role. A native of Falkville, Ala., he posted a 4-1 record and an earned run average of 2.58. In his six starts, Vest tossed four complete games, three of which were shutouts, while posting an ERA of 1.77 and striking out 36 in 45 2/3 innings. On the season, Vest tossed 52 1/3 innings, striking out 40 and limiting opposing hitters to a batting average of only .219.

After starting the season on the junior varsity roster, Harrell earned the call-up to the varsity squad and jump-started the Hawks season. Harrell answered with a .354 batting average, while helping the Hawks to a 19-6 record in the 25 games he played. In his first collegiate game, Harrell hit a home run in his first at-bat to highlight a 5-for-6 performance in a doubleheader sweep of Blackburn. He also posted a hit in 10 of his first 12 career at-bats. On the season, he finished with a team-leading four triples, a double and 21 runs batted in, while stealing six bases.

LaGrange’s Michael Sims was named the GSAC Player of the Year, while Tom Dimitroff was recognized as Pitcher of the Year and Zac Hargett of Maryville was named Freshman of the Year. Piedmont head coach Jim Peeples earned Coach of the Year honors.

In addition to its All-Conference awards, the league also honored its All-Academic team. Huntingdon placed 10 student-athletes on the squad, a number that was tied with Piedmont for the most in the conference. Earning All-Academic honors were Shipp, Vest, senior Brent Nichols, junior Brent Blackwell, and sophomores Kyle Eller, Chris Knight, Jason Olinger, John Otterson, Dylan Ruppel and Alex Sanford. In order to be considered for the all-academic team, a player must be classified as a sophomore or higher and maintain a grade point average of 3.25 or better.

Huntingdon finished the 2008 season with a 24-17 record, including a 6-3 mark in the GSAC. After a disappointing start, the Hawks finished the season by winning 23 of their last 30 games.