TUSCON, Ariz. – Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Caleb Webster of UNCG, relief pitcher Zach Graveno of Mercer and third baseman Taylor Garris of Samford were named to Collegiate Baseball's Freshmen All-American team, the newspaper announced Wednesday.

UNCG's Webster, a third baseman from Randleman, North Carolina, was a first-team All-SoCon selection and led all freshman in the nation with a .383 batting average, .007 points above the next closest rookie.

Manning the hot corner all season, Webster tallied a .978 fielding percentage, committing just three errors on 137 chances. Webster earned a .517 slugging percentage, having hit 14 doubles, five triples and a home run. His home run gave the Spartans an early lead in the opening round of the NCAA Clemson Regional. Webster drove in 40 runs, scored 40 runs and struck out just 17 times in 201 at bats. 

A right-handed product of Suwanee, Georgia, Mercer's Graveno went 6-1 over 21 appearances and struck out 24 batters in 30 innings pitched. He was used primarily out of the bullpen, but did make two starts against in-state foes Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State. Graveno allowed one run or fewer in 15 of his 21 appearances and helped bolster a Mercer bullpen unit that owned a 3.86 ERA and 24-6 record.

Two of his six wins came against Southern Conference opponents – Furman and VMI – and he added a victory against then-No. 9 nationally ranked East Carolina (March 17). A pair of relief efforts against Florida A&M (2.2 IP, 0 H, 3 K) and Georgia State (3.0 IP, 0 H, 2 K) were other season highlights.

Samford's Garris led the Bulldogs with a .333 batting average this year and started 54 games at third base as a true freshman. He also earned All-Freshman Team honors this season from the Southern Conference.

Garris, a native of Sarasota, Florida, scored 34 runs and drove in 30 in 2017. He also registered eight doubles and four home runs in his first season as a Bulldog.