ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University first baseman Dillon Carpenter has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-Region First Team and outfielder Chandler Castleberry was recognized on the Preseason All-Region Second Team, as announced by the association late Wednesday afternoon.
Carpenter captured Second-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors at the conclusion of last season, after ranking in the top-25 in the league in seven offensive categories. The Charlotte, N.C., native was second on the team and ranked 18th in the SAC with a .345 batting average. He was third in the SAC with 55 RBI and posted 70 hits (10th), hammered nine home runs (13th), ripped 13 doubles (14th), notched a .542 slugging percentage (18th) and ranked 21st with 27 walks.
He paced the Trojans with 22 multiple-hit games and notched a 10-game hitting streak that stretched from late March into early April, while blasting a seventh-inning grand slam in a 14-8 win over Young Harris in early April and he belted two homers and drove in seven runs in an 18-7 win over Mars Hill later in the month.
Castleberry is the reigning SAC Freshman of the Year and also garnered Second-Team All-South Atlantic Conference accolades following last season. He set a school record by belting 16 homers a season ago and drove in a team-high 58 runs, while tying for the team lead with a .578 slugging percentage. A native of Waxhaw, N.C., Castleberry ranked in the top-20 in the conference in seven statistical categories and was seventh on the team with a .284 batting average.
He wrapped up last season tied for second on the team with 12 doubles and was second with 35 walks on the season. The right-handed slugger posted 18 multiple-hit games and 17 multiple-RBI games, while reached base safely during a 21-game stretch during the season, including a 10-game hitting streak during February and early March.
The talented duo earned First-Team All-SAC honors earlier this week.
Anderson is slated to open the season by playing host to King in a doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. first-pitch on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Memorial Stadium.
NCBWA Preseason All-Southeast Region Teams
First Team
1B – Dillon Carpenter, Anderson
2B – Daulton Martin, Tusculum
3B – Chase Allen, Limestone
SS – Tyler Adams, Lincoln Memorial
C – Matt Honeycutt, Mars Hill
OF – Luke Jackson, UNC Pembroke
OF – Wesley Wommack, Georgia College
OF – Danton Hyman, Newberry
UT – Nate Estes, Mount Olive
SP – Kolton Ingram, Columbus State
SP – Tucker Burgess, North Greenville
SP – Ethan Elliott, Lincoln Memorial
RP – Parker Morrison, North Georgia
Second Team
1B – Alex Reynolds, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Seth Hartings, UNC Pembroke
3B – Garrett Green, Georgia College
SS – Colin Allman, Newberry
C – Andres Perez, North Georgia
OF – Jeffrey Chandler, North Greenville
OF – Jarel McDade, Tusculum
OF – Chandler Castleberry, Anderson
UT – Drew Yniesta, Erskine
SP – Austin Turgeon, Wingate
SP – John Grigg, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Ethan Garner, North Greenville
RP – Bradley Cammack, Georgia College