Pirates Earn ABCA All-Southeast Region Honors

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Three members of the Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad earned ABCA All-Southeast Region honors today, announced by the American Baseball Coaches' Association.

Senior Cody Walden earned first-team All-Southeast Region honors as a starting pitcher, while junior outfielder Alex Wyche made the second team as an outfielder. Junior Carlos Cardoza-Oquendo was named to the All-Southeast Region Rawlings (tm) Gold Glove team as well at second base.

Walden went 11-2 with a 3.70 ERA in 17 appearances, leading the Peach Belt Conference in wins and in innings pitched. He is the first AASU player to earn 10 or more wins since Jon Troop won 11 games in 2005, and the Tucson, Ariz., native also earned All-PBC and Daktronics/CoSIDA All-Region honors this season.

Wyche, meanwhile, led the Pirates in hitting with a .398 average with 11 doubles, 7 triples, 6 home runs and 58 RBIs. The Macon, Ga., native also earned All-PBC honors this season.

Cardoza-Oquendo is AASU's first honoree on the Rawlings (tm) Gold Glove team. The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native had a .959 fielding percentage in 217 chances, and also turned 33 double plays, contributing to the Pirates' PBC-high 49 double plays this season.

Walden and Cardoza-Oquendo will each advance to national balloting for the All-America and National Gold Glove teams, to be decided at the 2009 NCAA DII College World Series in Cary, N.C., next week.