Baseball Southern Conference

SoCon Stars Playing Major Role In Major League Divisional Series

A pair of former All-Southern Conference baseball players are making a big contribution in the Major League divisional series this week.

Former Western Carolina outfielder Charles Thomas, a mid-season call-up to the Atlanta Braves, scored the game-winning run in Thursday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Houston Astros. Thomas was on base when shortstop Rafael Furcal homered in the bottom of the 11th.

In the first two games of the National League Divisional Series, Thomas is Atlanta's second-leading hitter, going three for nine.

Thomas was a first team All-SoCon outfielder for the Catamounts in 1999.

Former Citadel third baseman Dallas McPherson, the Minor League Player of the Year who was called up on September 1, collected an RBI single in the Angels' 8-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

The Angels head to Fenway Park where the American League Divisional Series resumes with games on Friday and Saturday.

"It's going to be loud and it's going to be unbelievable," McPherson told MLB.com. "The fans in Boston are incomparable. They're great. They're passionate and they have a great team. They're going to be excited. Nothing can really prepare us for that, but they had to come to our place and deal with our fans and now we have to deal with their place."

McPherson earned first team All-SoCon honors in 2001 as a third baseman.