SoCon Baseball Postseason Awards Announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced the 2025 baseball all-conference teams and individual honors on Tuesday, as voted on by the league's eight head coaches. East Tennessee State dominated the major awards, claiming four of the five individual superlatives.

ETSU junior Cooper Torres was named the SoCon Player of the Year after a phenomenal season that saw him lead the league with a .370 batting average. ETSU right-hander Brady Frederick earned SoCon Pitcher of the Year honors, while ETSU head coach Joe Pennucci was selected as Coach of the Year.

ETSU first-year player Axel Melendez was named SoCon Freshman of the Year, while Mercer shortstop Bradley Frye captured the Golden Glove Award as the conference's top defensive player.

Torres, who started 52 games for the Buccaneers at second base compiled a .370 batting average with a 1.239 OPS, leading the conference in multiple offensive categories. Torres paced ETSU with 22 home runs and 66 RBIs while scoring 65 runs and logging a .774 slugging percentage. The Woodstock, Georgia, product reached base at a .465 clip and posted a .341 average with a 1.118 OPS in conference games. With a perfect 8-for-8 stolen base record, Torres becomes ETSU's first Player of the Year selection since rejoining the league in 2013.

Frederick, a right-hander, compiled a 7-1 record with a stellar 2.10 ERA across 21 appearances out of the bullpen. Frederick allowed just 38 hits in 64.1 innings while striking out 63 batters and maintaining a WHIP of 0.85 and holding opposing batters to a .173 batting average. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Frederick logged three saves this season. In conference play, Frederick maintained a 2.57 ERA and 4-1 record. Frederick becomes ETSU’s first Pitcher of the Year honoree since the award's inception.

Pennucci guided the Buccaneers to a 38-15 overall and a 14-7 conference record while producing the SoCon Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and multiple All-Conference selections. This season ETSU upset No.1 ranked Tennessee, 7-6, on March 18 and a series win over Pittsburgh on March 7-9. Pennucci is ETSU's first Coach of the Year selection since returning to the SoCon.

ETSU's Melendez hit .300 with a .900 OPS across 46 games. The freshman logged 18 walks against 24 strikeouts while tallying five home runs and 31 RBIs. The Cidra, Puerto Rico, native went 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts, and in conference play, maintained a .348 hitting average. Melendez becomes ETSU's third Freshman of the Year honoree, the last coming in 2022.

Mercer's Frye anchored one of the conference's top defenses from the shortstop position, earning the inaugural Golden Glove Award. The Marietta, Georgia, native handled 229 total chances with 70 putouts and 149 assists for a .956 fielding percentage.

The all-conference first team features representation from six institutions across the league, with ETSU leading the way with four selections including Torres, starting pitchers Carter Fink and Jace Hyde, and Jamie Palmese. Mercer placed three players on the first team with Frye, starting pitcher Colton Cosper, and outfielder Ty Dalley.

Western Carolina’s Jack Spyke and Wyatt Stanley, UNCG’s Danny Thompson Jr. and VMI’s Grayson Fitzwater represent their schools on the first team. Maddox Webb of The Citadel, Parker McDonald and Michael Gupton of Samford round out the first-team selections.

Samford led the second team with five selections including Mason Blasche, Miller Riggins, Josh Leerssen, Jeffrey Ince, and Cade Carr. ETSU’s Derek McCarley, Cody Miller, Grant Gallagher, and Lenny Montesano represent the Bucs on the second team. Dusty Revis of Western Carolina and Boston Torres and Owen Prince of VMI represent their respective institutions. Carter Rasmussen and The Citadel’s TJ Anderson complete the second team.

All eight SoCon programs claimed at least one all-conference selection.

The All-Freshman Team featured at least one athlete from each of the eight schools in the SoCon. Samford led the way with three selections, Mason Blasche, Gus Gandy, and Jake Souders. UNCG placed two on the all freshman team, JJ Parsons and Parker Wright, as did Western Carolina, Trey Spees and Wyatt Stanley, and Wofford, Cullen Condon and Tanner Hardin. Collin Ewaldsen of Mercer and Justin Spiegel of VMI join Melendez to represent their institutions on the All-Freshman team.

The inaugural All-Defensive team included players from six teams with The Citadel placing a conference leading, four athletes on the team in Phillips Daniels, Garrett Dill, Travis Elliott, and Lane Tobin. ETSU was represented by Cody Miller and Tristan Curless while Mercer’s Frye and Titan Kamaka represent the Bears. Jacob Budzik of UNCG, Jeffrey Ince of Samford, VMI’s Owen Prince and Trent Turner of Western Carolina complete the all-defensive team.

The SoCon Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases will take place from Wednesday to Sunday at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. All eight league teams will be vying for the tournament title and the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.

Player of the Year - Cooper Torres, ETSU
Pitcher of the Year - Brady Frederick, ETSU
Coach of the Year - Joe Pennucci, ETSU
Freshman of the Year - Axel Melendez, ETSU
Golden Glove Award (Defensive Player of the Year) - Bradley Frye, Mercer

All Conference First Team
SP - Carter Fink, ETSU
SP - Jace Hyde, ETSU
SP - Colton Cosper, Mercer
RP - Maddox Webb, The Citadel
RP - Danny Thompson Jr., UNCG
RP - Brady Frederick, ETSU
C - Jack Spyke, Western Carolina
1B - Grayson Fitzwater, VMI
2B - Cooper Torres, ETSU
SS - Bradley Frye, Mercer
3B - Parker McDonald, Samford
OF - Jamie Palmese, ETSU
OF - Ty Dalley, Mercer
OF - Michael Gupton, Samford
DH - Wyatt Stanley, Western Carolina

All Conference Second Team
SP - Mason Blasche, Samford
SP - Miller Riggins, Samford
SP - Dusty Revis, Western Carolina
RP - Derek McCarley, ETSU
RP - Josh Leerssen, Samford
RP - Carter Rasmussen, Wofford
C - Cade Carr, Samford
1B - Jackson Harris, Samford
2B - Jeffrey Ince, Samford
SS - Cody Miller, ETSU
3B - Grant Gallagher, ETSU
OF - TJ Anderson, The Citadel
OF - Boston Torres, VMI
OF - Owen Prince, VMI
DH - Lenny Montesano, ETSU

All Conference Defensive Team
Phillips Daniels, The Citadel
Garrett Dill, The Citadel
Travis Elliott, The Citadel
Lane Tobin, The Citadel
Tristan Curless, ETSU
Cody Miller, ETSU
Bradley Frye, Mercer
Titan Kamaka, Mercer
Jacob Budzik, UNCG
Jeffrey Ince, Samford
Owen Prince, VMI
Trent Turner, Western Carolina

All Conference Freshman Team
Axel Melendez, ETSU
Collin Ewaldsen, Mercer
JJ Parsons, UNCG
Parker Wright, UNCG
Mason Blasche, Samford
Gus Gandy, Samford
Jake Souders, Samford
Justin Spiegel, VMI 
Trey Spees, Western Carolina
Wyatt Stanley, Western Carolina
Cullen Condon, Wofford
Tanner Hardin, Wofford