| BIRMINGHAM – University of South Carolina sophomore catcher Cole Messina and freshman outfielder Ethan Petry both were named to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team while Petry was named to the league’s Freshman All-SEC team, the SEC announced this afternoon (Monday, May 22). Messina is hitting .317 with 56 runs scored, 17 doubles, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, six stolen bases and 34 walks, staring in all 55 games for the Gamecocks in 2023. Messina is sixth in the SEC in RBI and eighth in doubles. He is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and is on the Buster Posey Award Watch List. In conference play, Messina has nine doubles, seven home runs and 26 RBI. Petry leads the Gamecocks and is sixth in the SEC with a .379 batting average. He has 48 runs scored, nine doubles, 21 home runs, 69 RBI, 24 walks and 13 hit by pitches. Petry is slugging at a .749 clip and has a .464 on-base percentage. He is a semifinalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy and was a four-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree. In conference play, Petry is hitting .359 with three doubles, 13 home runs and 42 RBI. In the SEC specialty awards, LSU’s Dylan Crews was named the SEC Player of the Year while the Tigers’ Paul Skenes was the Pitcher of the Year. Georgia’s Charlie Condon was the SEC’s Freshman of the Year while Georgia’s Ben Anderson and Alabama’s Andrew Pinckney shared the Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Arkansas’ Dave Van Horn was named the Coach of the Year. |
