June 13, 2002

Asheville, N.C. - The Southern Conference Sports Media Association (SCSMA) today named Western Carolina centerfielder Donovan Minero as its Player of the Year. The SCSMA also announced its All-Southern Conference team which included Western's Minero (first team), Ryan Schade (first team as a shortstop) Todd Buchanan (first team as a first baseman), Alan Beck (second team as an outfielder) and Chris Davis (second team as a designated hitter).

Minero's SoCon Player of the Year selection marks the 14th time a Catamount has earned the honor since WCU joined the league for the 1977 season. The San Jose, Calif., native was additionally a first team All-SoCon selection after batting .374 with 62 RBI. Minero led the SoCon with 15 home runs this season and, after leading the league with 17 homers last season, became the first player to pace the conference in round trippers in consecutive years since Western's Matt Raleigh (1991-92).

In addition to leading the league in home runs, Minero's .374 batting average was good for sixth, while he ranked third in RBI, third in doubles (19), third in total bases (147), third in slugging percentage (.662) and seventh in hits (83). In games versus SoCon competition, The All-American led the conference in home runs (10), RBI (40), hits (53), total bases (96) and slugging percentage (.774), while ranking second in doubles (13), third in batting average (.427) and sixth in on base percentage (.479).

Minero, a three-time SoCon Player of the Week this season, was also WCU's Male Athlete of the Year, Co-MVP of the baseball team and recipient the Charlie Justice Award, given by the Mountain Amateur Athletic Club to the top male collegiate athlete competing in the region who hails from outside the Western North Carolina region.

Schade had a career year, splitting time between shortstop and third base this season. He batted .377 and ranked among the SoCon top 10 in seven offensive categories. In SoCon games, he ranked among the top five in five categories. The Lewisburg, Pa., native started the season by being named both National and SoCon Player of the Week. His seven RBI in the first game at Appalachian State was the most by a SoCon player this season, as were his 10 assists versus Wright State in the 2002 season opener. Schade, voted his team's Co-MVP along with Minero, was named first team Verizon Academic All-America and was also named the top student in the WCU sport management department, receiving the Jim Hamilton "Major of the Year" award.

Buchanan (Roswell, Ga.) was known for his outstanding defense coming into the season, but can now lay claim to being the top all-around first baseman in the league. Tabbed "best defensive first baseman in the SoCon" by Baseball America prior to the season, the junior added a potent bat as the Catamounts' cleanup hitter, ranking among the league leaders in RBI, home runs and walks this season to earn first team honors. He hit three grand slams this season, including one versus Clemson in a game in which he had a season-high six RBIs.

Beck, a first team honoree last season, ranked among the SoCon's top 10 in nine offensive categories. The junior from Hudson, N.C., finished the season with a .374 batting average and entered the school's career top 10 in doubles and RBI.

Davis (Goldsboro, N.C.) may have been the find of the century by WCU head coach Todd Raleigh as Western was the only Division I school to offer a scholarship to Davis. The freshman wound up being the Cats' designated hitter over the last two-thirds of the season and batted an amazing .393 with 17 walks.

Minero, Schade and Buchanan were each tabbed first team All-SoCon by the league's coaches, while Beck and Davis were both second team selections. Other Catamounts to earn SoCon Player of the Year honors include Wayne Tolleson (1978), Mel Kinsey (1981), Scott Gay (1985), Clint Fairey (1987, '88 and '89), Grant Brittain (1990), Kevin Bellomo (1991), Matt Raleigh (1992), Mike Tidick (1994), Alex Tolbert (1997), Martin Barrow (1998) and Chris Moore (1999).

Southern Conference Sports Media Association (SCSMA)
All-SoCon Baseball Team

First Team
P	Scooter Michael, UNCG
P	Ryan Johnson, CofC
RP	Randy Corn, The Citadel
C	Matt Lauderdale, CofC
1B	Todd Buchanan, WCU
2B	Jason Sarvis, UNCG
SS	Ryan Schade, WCU
3B	Lee Curtis, CofC
OF	Brett Spivey, CofC
OF	Donovan Minero, WCU
OF	Matt Herring, GSU
DH	Ryan Gordon, UNCG

Second Team
P	T.A. Fulmer, The Citadel
P	Jeff Stovall, Furman
RP	George Lehr, Wofford
C	Brendan Gilligan, GSU
1B	Chip Cannon, The Citadel
2B	Chad Hall, Georgia Southern
SS	Tony Carbone, Wofford
3B	Matt Lein, Wofford
OF	Tim Frend, Davidson
OF	Strat Stavrou, Wofford
OF	Alan Beck, WCU
DH	Chris Davis, WCU

Player of the Year
Donovan Minero, WCU

Pitcher of the Year
Scooter Michael, UNC Greensboro

Freshman of the Year 
Matt Lein, Wofford

Coach of the Year 
Fred Jordan, The Citadel