Tuesday January 31, 2012

AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken senior Nick Aranas has been tabbed to the 2012 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-America First-Team.

Aranas was chosen to the preseason All-America team as a utility player.

It is the third preseason honor for Aranas, who was recently selected to the Peach Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference Team as a designated hitter. He was also named as a Player to Watch by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Aranas, who was also named to the NCBWA All-Southeast Region First-Team, was one of three Pacers honored by the NCBWA. Junior Josh Miller was named to the All-Southeast Region Second-Team as a catcher. Senior Stephen Carmon was tabbed to the Third-Team as a shortstop.

Aranas missed the entire 2011 season due to injury after entering the season as a preseason All-American and a member of the Peach Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference Team. He was named to the 2011 Tino Martinez Award Watch List.

Aranas ended his junior season by being named to the 2010 NCAA Division II Daktronics All-America Baseball First-Team as a designated hitter.

Aranas finished the 2010 season leading the Pacers with a .415 (83-for-200) batting average. The batting average was the third-best in the Peach Belt Conference in 2010.

In total, the Lexington, S.C. native finished the 2010 season in the top 15 in the PBC in six different categories.

Aranas was second-best among all Pacers in 2010 with 53 RBIs and 46 runs scored. He was second on the squad in total bases over the course of the year as well with 129.