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 Alan Beck was name 2003 SoCon Player of the Year by the league's coaches. He was joined on the first team by Rod Goldston, while Derrick Hawk, Todd Buchanan and Wayne Kilmer named second team. |
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May 21, 2003
Charleston, S.C. - Western Carolina senior Alan Beck was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year by the league's coaches, it was announced today. Beck, who helped the Catamounts win the SoCon regular-season crown, was joined on the first team by senior outfielder Rod Goldston, while pitcher Derrick Hawk, first baseman Todd Buchanan and shortstop Wayne Kilmer were named second team All-SoCon.
Beck, a two-time SoCon Player of the Week selection, earns the 15th SoCon Player of the Year honor by a Catamount since 1978. The Hudson, N.C., native was a first team All-SoCon pick in 2001 and a second team selection last season. This year, Beck batted .338 and led the conference in home runs (17), RBI (68) and runs scored (63). He additionally ranks 29th in the NCAA in home runs and 21st in RBI. Beck, who will finish his career among the WCU and SoCon all-time leaders in several offensive categories, was also second in the SoCon in slugging percentage, total bases and walks, while ranking fourth in on-base percentage and ninth in hits. In conference games only, Beck was in the top five in seven offensive categories. In the preseason, Beck was tabbed as having the "Best Raw Power in the SoCon" by Baseball America for the second consecutive year. Also, Beck was named first team All-SoCon as an outfielder by the coaches, while being named to the second team as a first baseman. Off the field, Beck was named the TIAA/CREF SoCon All-Academic team thanks to his 3.2 grade point average in sport management.
Goldston earns his first ever honor, joining Beck in the first team. Goldston was named the WCU team MVP by the Catamount coaches earlier this season. He led the team and ranked fourth in the league with a .371 batting average. The Ramseur, N.C., native set the WCU single-season and career records for doubles, hitting 25 this season and 69 in his four years. Goldston additionally ranked ninth in the NCAA in doubles, while leading the SoCon. He was also fifth in the SoCon in RBI, total bases and runs scored.
Hawk, who ranks 12th in the NCAA with 10 wins, was 10-1 with three saves in 2003 to make the second team. In SoCon games, he was 8-1 with a saves in 11 appearances. The Sylva, N.C., native posted a 2.81 ERA, but did not qualify to rank among the NCAA or SoCon leaders as he only pitched 51.1 innings in 25 games. (NCAA requires pitchers to have at least one inning pitched per team game.)
Buchanan earns his second All-SoCon after earning first team honors in 2002. This season, Buchanan batted .332 in the regular season and blasted 11 home runs and drove in 58. In addition to his play as the plate, Buchanan is widely regarded as the top defensive first baseman in the league. He only made three errors in 501 chances, but what the stat sheet does not record is the number of errors he saves with his ability to gather wild throws.
Kilmer, a JuCo transfer, had a tough task, replacing Ryan Schade, who was first team All-SoCon shortstop last season. However, Kilmer came in to bat .350, sixth in the league, while ranking third in runs scored (58) and third in stolen bases (24). In fact, Kilmer's 24 stolen bases was only eight shy of Western Carolina's team total in 2002. In SoCon action, Kilmer paced the league in stolen bases, while his batting average rose to .368.
Other Catamounts to earn SoCon Player of the Year include: Donovan Minero (2002), Chris Moore (1999), Martin Barrow (1998), Alex Tolbert (1997), Mike Tidick (1994), Matt Raleigh (1992), Kevin Bellomo (1991), Grant Brittain (1990), Clint Fairey (1989, '88 and '87), Scott Gay (1985), Mel Kinsey (1981) and Wayne Tolleson (1978). WCU also has two SoCon Pitcher of the Year honors, which has been awarded since 1989, including Mark DiFelice (1998) and Jason Beverlin (1994).
2003 Coaches All-Southern Conference Team
First Team P Tom Mastny, Furman P Jarrett Santos, UNC Greensboro Relief David Mitchell, Furman C Matt Lauderdale, College of Charleston 1B Chip Cannon, The Citadel 2B Lee Curtis, College of Charleston 3B Chris Ard, The Citadel SS Andy Howdeshell, East Tennessee State OF Alan Beck, Western Carolina OF Rod Goldston, Western Carolina OF Brenden Gilligan, Georgia Southern DH Ryan Gordon, UNC Greensboro
Second Team P Derrick Hawk, Western Carolina P Dennis Dove, Georgia Southern Relief Matt Hamer, The Citadel C Derrek Norman, Furman 1B Todd Buchanan, Western Carolina 2B Jason Sarvis, UNC Greensboro 3B Carlos Love, Georgia Southern SS Wayne Kilmer, Western Carolina OF Brett Spivey, College of Charleston OF Sam Navarro, Davidson OF Brook Dantzler, The Citadel DH Grant Burruss, Georgia Southern
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