Kings Mountain, Crest, South Point dominate All-Big South 3A baseball roster
After winning its first conference title since 2009, Kings Mountain also claimed two of Big South 3A baseball's top awards.
Junior infielder Zane Brockman was named conference player of the year, while Brad Melton was voted its top coach.
Brockman batted .357 with a home run, four doubles and 17 RBIs this past season. He also served as Kings Mountain’s No. 1 pitcher, going 8-0 with 72 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA. The junior allowed a total of nine runs during the 2022 campaign, seven of which were earned.
Melton guided Kings Mountain to 18 wins, the program's most since winning 20 games in 2016.
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Kings Mountain also placed pitcher Charlie Melton, infielder Caleb Broome and outfielder Jacob Hamrick on the All-Big South 3A roster.
Conference runner-up Crest also landed five players on the all-conference roster. Leading the way was Limestone recruit Colby Humphries, who was voted the league’s top pitcher.
Against conference opponents, Humphries went 7-2 with a 1.62 ERA. Opposing batters hit .190 against him, striking out 57 times in 39 innings of work.
Teammates joining him include infielder Clayton Brown, outfielders Brayden Blaylock and Connor Gantt and pitcher Tucker McSwain.
Six South Point players made the list, a league high. That includes Appalachian State recruit Jake Beaty, who allowed six runs (five earned) on 13 hits in 45.2 innings this season. He is credited with 71 strikeouts and 25 walks.
Other Red Raiders are catcher Carson Shell, infielders Justin Smith and Wyatt Triplett, outfielder Ryan Harris and utility man Matthew Walker.
Pitcher Ashton Pope was among five North Gaston players voted all-conference. Others included infielders Nate Williams and Austin Wood, as well as outfielder Chase Sharpe and utility man Kandan Zollo.
Ashbrook infielder Chandler Meeks, outfielder Manny Watkins and utility man Cooper York earned All-Big South 3A recognition, along with Stuart Cramer's Julian Hall and Forestview infielder Jesse Osborne.
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA baseball: Big South 3A announces all-conference team
