Hobson Adds Another All-America Honor

BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University second baseman Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) added another national honor to his growing list of accolades on Monday when Ping!Baseball named him a third-team preseason all-American. Last month, Collegiate Baseball newspaper also tabbed Hobson as a third-team preseason all-American.

Ping!Baseball recognized Hobson as one of the nation’s top five second baseman heading into the 2010 campaign, as its preseason all-America squads include just one first-teamer and two players on the second and third teams at each position.

Hobson was one of the nation’s top second basemen as a junior in 2009. He started all 54 games for the Mountaineers and ranked second on the club behind only all-American Isaac Harrow in batting average (.380), hits (89), triples (4), runs batted in (60), total bases (147), slugging percentage (.628) and on-base percentage (.452). He tied Harrow for the team lead with 23 doubles and was also one of college baseball’s top defensive infielders, making just three errors in 270 chances at second base, good for a sterling .989 fielding percentage.

Hobson was especially impressive in April of last season, when he hit .444 (36-for-81) to help lead Appalachian to an 18-2 record for the month.

Coming into 2010, Hobson boasts 223 hits, 154 runs, 56 doubles, 140 RBI and 350 total bases in his career, putting him on pace to supplant Harrow as ASU’s all-time leader in each category. He is a .346 career hitter.

Hobson and the Mountaineers won 27 of their final 34 games in 2009 to finish at 33-21 and give the program three-straight 30-win seasons for the first time in 23 years. Appalachian opens the 2010 campaign on Feb. 19 versus Presbyterian at the Marriott Classic in Spartanburg, S.C.

Elon’s Melillo Placed on Preseason All-America Squad

OMAHA, Neb. -- Elon senior catcher Mike Melillo (Annandale, N.J.) has been named as a third-team preseason 2010 All-American by Ping!Baseball.
 
Melillo helped Elon capture its second consecutive Southern Conference regular-season crown and make its third NCAA Regional appearance in four seasons in 2009.  The Phoenix finished the 2009 season with a 41-18 overall record and ranked 24th in the country in the final 2009 Baseball America Top-25 poll.
 
During his junior season, Melillo hit .344 and scored 67 runs.  He led the team with 19 doubles while legging out three triples, belting 18 homers and driving in 64 runs.  Melillo slugged .722 and posted a .483 on-base percentage over 58 games a year ago.  He also drew 45 walks, tied for the most on the team.
 
Junior closer Thomas Girdwood (Charlotte, N.C.) was listed as the relief pitcher in the "For your consideration" category.  Girdwood, Elon's all-time saves leader with 27, tied for third nationally with 17 saves a year ago.  In 25.1 innings pitched, Girdwood struck out 38 hitters.