MASTNY NAMED PITCHER OF THE YEAR; MITCHELL AND NORMAN
EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

SPARTANBURG, SC — As selected by the leagues coaches, senior Tom Mastny was named the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and first team All-Conference. Relief pitcher David Mitchell was also named to the first team, while catcher Derek Norman was named to the second-team.

The last time Furman received a first team selection was in 1991 when three Paladins secured places on the team. That same year, Will Ertel was named Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and was the last Furman player to be awarded the honor.

Mastny, a senior righthander, led the SoCon with a 1.17 earned run average while compiling a 10-2 record in the regular season. He also leads the conference 115.0 innings pitched and seven complete games while holding opponents to a .179 batting average. The Zionsville, Ind. native led the Paladins to a 3-2 victory over UNC Greensboro in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament.

Mitchell, a freshman righthander, posted a 3-3 record with seven saves during the regular season. The Houston, Texas native was honored as Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week last week when he picked up a win over #19 Clemson and two saves.

This is Norman’s second time being selected second team All-Conference. During the 2001 season he was named to the team as well as being named Freshman of the Year. This season the Knoxville, Tenn. native has batted .318 with four home runs and 37 RBI.

Furman returns to action on Thursday when the Paladins face top-seeded Western Carolina in the second round of the 2003 Southern Conference Tournament at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.

First Team
P Tom Mastny, Furman
P Jarrett Santos, UNC Greensboro
Relief David Mitchell, Furman
C Matt Lauderdale, Coll of Charleston
1B Chip Cannon, The Citadel
2B Lee Curtis, Coll of Charleston
SS Andy Howdeshell, East Tennessee State
3B Chris Ard, The Citadel
OF Alan Beck, Western Carolina
OF Rod Goldston, Western Carolina
OF Brendan 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 Derek Norman, Furman
1B Todd Buchanan, Western Carolina
2B Jason Sarvis, UNC Greensboro
3B Carlos Love, Georgia Southern
OF Brett Spivey, Coll of Charleston
OF Sam Navarro, Davidson
OF Brook Dantzler, The Citadel
DH Grant Burruss, Georgia Southern