Graduation is nearing for most schools and has already happened for some, but the team here at FYNSports wanted to take a moment and honor the best players we saw on the baseball diamond in 2023. It was a fun year and we saw a lot of teams make some deep runs in the playoffs, both in Georgia and in North Carolina. We are said to see it end, and can’t wait for next season to come around! Thank you to the seniors for the journey, it’s been awesome to watch you guys for four years!

Area Player of The Year: Connor Shouse, Pickens, GA (.330 BA / 30 RBI / 46.1 IP / 2.11 ERA / 7-2 W-L)

Pitcher of The Year: AJ Rice, Pickens, GA (57.2 IP / 9-1 W-L / .97 ERA / 85 Ks)

Defensive Player of The Year: Avery Leatherwood, Hayesville, NC (1.000 FPCT / 128 PO / 128 TC)

ALL-AREA BASEBALL TEAM

C Carter Hayes (Swain Co., NC) .440 BA / 23 RBI / .622 OBP

INF Alejandro Narvaez (Lumpkin Co., GA) .462 BA / 19 RBI / 41 Hits

INF Jace Armstong (Model, GA) .447 BA / 13 RBI

INF Michael Mauney (Hayesville, NC) .431 BA / 15 RBI / 22 SB

OF Carson Callihan (Fannin Co., GA)

OF Austin Zabala (Gilmer Co., GA) .313 BA 

OF Julian Horner (Dawson Co., GA) .380 BA / 27 RBI / 5 HR

INF Gabe Lillard (Swain Co., NC) .339 BA / 18 RBI / .593 SLG

OF Harper Davenport (Lumpkin Co., GA) .348 BA / 14 RBI / 25 SB

INF Isaac Weaver (Andrews, NC) .381 BA / 10 RBI

P Robert Turner (Murphy, NC) 1.93 ERA / 32.3 IP / 50 Ks

P James Tilley (Pickens Co., GA) 56.1 IP / 91 Ks / 1.49 ERA / 9-0 W-L

P Braxton Cherry (Hayesville, NC) 3.19 ERA / 41.2 IP / 56 Ks / 4-2 W-L

P Adian Rogers (Lumpkin Co., GA) 2.57 ERA / 51.2 IP / 6-3 W-L

P Gunnar Akins (Union Co., GA) 2-0 W-L / 42.1 IP / 52 Ks