Escalante, Rogers get region POY accolades

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 18, 2012 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Geno Escalante seized the 2012 Daktronics Division II baseball Southeast Region player-of-the-year award, while teammate Jacob Rogers shared the 2012 NCBWA Division II baseball Southeast Region player-of-the-year plaque.

It's the second straight year two Mount Olive College players have earned region player-of-the-year accolades. Carter Capps won three Southeast Region pitcher-of-the-year awards a year ago, while ABCA named designated hitter Michael Knox the Southeast Region player-of-the-year.

Pitcher Matt Dillon joined Escalante and Rogers on the Daktronics Southeast Region first team. Shortstop Mike Mercurio and third baseman Jermaine Berry garnered second-team honors.

Escalante, Rogers, Dillon and Mercurio grabbed spots on the NCBWA All-Southeast Region first team. Berry and center fielder Antonio Callaway were named to the second team. Pitcher Zach Smith earned NCBWA All-Southeast Region honorable mention honors.

All of the Trojans' first-team picks are eligible for All-America recognition.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms suspended opening-day play of the 2012 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Scarborough Field. Francis Marion turned back third-seeded Armstrong Atlantic, 11-2, in the first game.

The Catawba-Tusculum game was suspended in the seventh inning.

Top-seeded Mount Olive (44-8 overall) opposed sixth-seeded Lander (S.C.) University at noon.