FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rob Silsbee, Christopher Newport
July 2, 2011


USA South Sweeps College Division Baseball Awards
Shenandoah’s Greg Van Sickler, CNU’s Billy Steel & John Harvell Grab Top Honors

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After a season in which both USA South programs held the top spot in the national rankings, it was fitting that Shenandoah University and Christopher Newport University would headline the 2011 Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) College Division All-State Baseball Team. SU senior Greg Van Sickler repeated as the State Player of the Year while CNU shortstop Billy Steel grabbed Rookie of the Year honors and CNU head coach John Harvell collected his fourth Coach of the Year nod.

The two USA South programs combined for nine All-State selections, including five First Team picks. Van Sickler led the way for the second straight year as the Hornets staff ace and one of the top offensive threats as well.

Van Sickler became the first player in USA South history to earn both Player and Pitcher of the Year honors in the same season en route to a First Team All-America selection by both D3Baseball.com and the ABCA. He earned ABCA South Region Player of the Year laurels and wrapped up his career with four straight First Team All-State selections by VaSID. He led Shenandoah’s staff with an 11-1 record and a 1.81 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 83 in 89.2 innings of work and pitched three complete games. Whether he was spinning gems on the mound or playing second base, he was also one of the Hornets top hitters, hitting .390 in his final campaign with seven homers and 46 RBI. He started all 44 games for Shenandoah and collected 31 extra-base hits for a .661 slugging percentage.

Steel was an integral piece of the Captains success this season, starting at shortstop as a freshman in all 46 games. The rookie hit .333 with 14 extra-base hits and 42 RBI while playing the demanding position. He ranked third on the team in hitting and RBI and got hot as the postseason arrived. Steel earned USA South Tournament MVP honors after hitting .583 with five RBI and five runs scored, and he was a three-time USA South Rookie of the Week during the season.

Harvell hauled in his fourth VaSID Coach of the Year honor this season, after leading CNU to new heights in 2011. The Captains earned a number one national ranking for the first time in school history and also posted a program-record 26-straight victories. Harvell guided the team to a record 39 victories and a top seed in the NCAA South Regional. For his efforts he was named the ABCA South Region coach of the Year.

Ten different teams are represented on this year’s VaSID All-State teams, led by CNU with five selections. Shenandoah had four, followed by Southern Virginia, Randolph-Macon, Bridgewater, Va. Wesleyan, and Washington & Lee with two each.