Three Bobcats named PBC baseball preseason all-conference

AUGUSTA, Ga. (GC ATHLETICS) – Three players on the Georgia College baseball team were named to the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Preseason All-PBC Team. The players named were seniors Clay Ardeeser (Loganville) and Steve Hazel (Kentwood, Michigan), as well as sophomore Jake Sandlin (Evans).

Ardeeser, a senior, was named at first base after hitting a whopping .424 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI in 2014. This was good enough for the lead the PBC in batting average, the highest single-season average in the conference since 2010. Ardeeser was named second team All-Conference and second team All-Region last season, also setting Peach Belt in hits and total bases in conference games.

Hazel is the catcher for the preseason all-conference team. He was a consensus All-American and All-PBC First Team pick a season ago with his .381 batting average, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and a league-leading .710 slugging percentage.

Georgia College’s third selection, Sandlin, has been chosen for the outfield. The junior hit .365 a year ago with six home runs, 59 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. Sandlin was an All-PBC pick as a freshman in 2013.

The baseball season begins on Feb. 7 with a double-header at No. 2 University of Tampa. The first home contest for Bobcat baseball comes Tuesday, Feb. 10 against Newberry College at 3 p.m.