Baseball's Messina Named Perfect Game and NCBWA All-American

DALLAS – For the second straight season, University of South Carolina junior catcher Cole Messina has been named a Second Team All-American by both Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the organizations announced this afternoon (Wednesday, June 12).

Messina led Carolina with a .326 batting average to go along with 64 runs scored, 19 doubles, 21 home runs, 71 runs-batted-in, 50 walks and eight stolen bases. Messina threw out 13 runners trying to steal, including three in the Raleigh Regional opener against James Madison (May 31).

He was named to both the All-SEC Tournament team and the All-Raleigh Regional team. Messina set the SEC Tournament record with 16 RBI in the five games played and had two home runs, including the game-winner, in a victory over Arkansas (May 22). He was named to the All-SEC second team after hitting .330 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 28 RBI in conference contests.

Messina was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region and is on the ballot for their All-America teams to be announced on Friday, June 14.