Baseball's Messina Named Academic All-American
AUSTIN, Texas – University of South Carolina junior catcher Cole Messina was named a Third Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators, the organization announced this afternoon (Tuesday, July 2).
Messina becomes the 14th Gamecock to earn Academic All-America honors and the first since Brett Kerry in 2021.
Messina, who has a 3.6 GPA in criminology and criminal justice, 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 while becoming a consensus All-American at catcher. 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.
CSC ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
2024 – Cole Messina (Third Team)
2021 – Brett Kerry (First Team)
2014 – Grayson Greiner (Second Team)
2013 – LB Dantzler (First Team)
2012 – Michael Roth (First Team)
2011 – Michael Roth (First Team)
1985 – Rob Rinehart (Second Team)
1981 – Jim Curl, Paul Hollins (Second Team)
1980 – Jim Curl, Paul Hollins (Third Team)
1977 – Randy Martz, Mark Van Bever
1974 – John Gambrell
