Written by David Mann
5/10/2012 (ALBANY) –Six Darton College baseball student-athletes earned All-Region XVII honors, the GCAA
announced today.
The GCAA named Cavalier first-baseman Casey James co-Defensive Player Of The Year along with Georgia Perimeter College’s John Fidanza (tie). James, a freshman from Brunswick, was also named a member of the All-Region Gold Glove Team with teammates Bryant Alonso, a second-baseman from Valdosta, and outfielder Parker Nix.
Nix, a sophomore from Adel, also received All-Conference, 2ndTeam honors with teammate Cody Wofford, of McDonough.
Sophomore pitcher Matt Aldrich and outfielder Kevin Manos earned All-Conference, 1st Team honors.
”I am extremely proud of our season and how far we have come in such a short amount of time,” said Darton College baseball coach, Scot Hemmings, who took over the Cavalier baseball program in the fall. “The All-Conference awards and gold glove selections are direct results of each of these players’ work ethic and dedication to baseball.
“I am proud as I sit back and reflect on each player and his growth as a student-athlete and young
man throughout the season.”
These individual ball players drew a lot of positive attention to a rejuvenated Darton baseball program.
For weeks Aldrich and Manos led the NJCAA in strikeouts and RBI, respectively, while James is one of the leading defensive players in the nation. He currently has a .997 fielding percentage and 316 put outs.
And as a team, the program earned its first national ranking, going as high as No. 12 and spending six weeks in the top 25. The Cavs broke school records in most wins in a season (36), RBI, team RBI, team stolen bases, individual hit-by-pitches and individual at-bats.
The Cavaliers spent seven weeks at the top of the GCAA, and entered the conference tournament this past Friday, as the No. 3 seed.
2012 GCAA All-Region Baseball
Player of the Year: JB Wendelken MGC
Coach of the Year: Craig Young
Defense Player of the Year: Co-Winners John Fidanza GPC, Casey James DC
All Conference Team
1st Team
Pitchers: Matthew Aldrich – DC, Sam Agnew-Wieland MGC
Closer: JB Wendelken – MGC
Catcher: John Fidanza – GPC
INF: Wes Armstrong – GPC, Blake Shouse – MGC, Nate Crown – EGC, Dusty Davis – WGT
OF: David Van Horn – GPC, Kevin Manos – DC, Bo Way – MGC
DH: Jake Fields – MGC
2nd Team
Pitchers: Joseph Boatwright – MGC, Monte Reese – GPC
Closer: Christian Turnipseed – GPC
Catcher: Dylan Kelly – MGC
INF: Bobby Woodall – GC, Nate Ferrell – AC, Cody Wofford – DC, McLendon Hill – GPC
OF: JD Sabo – SGC, Parker Nix – DC, Aaron Mizell – GC
DH: Antonio Allen – GPC
2012 All-Region Gold Glove Team
P Andrew Fessler GC
C John Fidanza GPC
1B Casey James DC
2B Bryant Alonso DC
3B Dusty Davis WGT
SS Grant Massey GC
OF John Wesley EGC
OF Parker Nix DC
OF Tyler Bashlor SGC












