Baseball 6/25/2020 3:00:00 PM

BUTLER, HILLSINGER, HORWITZ NAMED TO BIG SOUTH ALL-DECADE TEAM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three former Radford baseball standouts earned the recognition of being named to the Big South All-Decade Team Presented by Hercules Tires, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.

Pitcher Eddie Butler, outfielder Matt Hillsinger and infielder Spencer Horwitz were the Highlander contingent selected to the team.

Butler (2010-12) was one of the most dominant pitchers to ever don a Radford uniform, ranking inside the top 10 in program history in wins, ERA, strikeouts, games started, innings pitched, batting average against, complete games and shutouts. The 2012 Big South Pitcher of the Year, Butler was a two-time all-conference selection (2011 and 2012) and the VaSID Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2012. His 2012 season was one of the best seasons put together by a pitcher in Big South history, with a 2.20 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 98 innings. Butler finished his Highlander career with 22 wins, a 3.84 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 279 innings across three seasons. The Chesapeake, Virginia, native made Radford and Big South history as the conference's first-ever first-round pick in the MLB Draft when he was selected 46th overall by the Colorado Rockies in 2012.

Hillsinger (2009-12) was a three-time first team all-conference selection (2010, 2011 and 2012) and was one of the most productive outfielders in Radford history. Hillsinger also earned VaSID All-State honors three times (2010, 2011 and 2012) and finished his career inside the top 10 in program history in runs, hits batting average, triples, total bases, stolen bases, stolen base percentage and sacrifice flies. His 16 sacrifice flies remain tied for the most in a career by a Radford player. Hillsinger hit above .300 in each of his final three seasons, including a .367 mark in 2010 and had at least 10 doubles and 30 RBIs in each of those final three seasons. The Bowie, Maryland, native was selected in the 22nd round in 2012 by the Oakland Athletics.

Horwitz (2017-19) was a two-time all-conference selection (2017 and 2018) and was an honorable mention all-conference honoree in 2019. He burst onto the scene as a Freshman All-American in 2017, helping lead Radford to its second Big South Tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The slick-fielding first baseman finished his career inside the top 10 in program history in homers, walks, sacrifice flies, fielding percentage, chances, putouts and double plays turned. Horwitz had at least 20 extra-base hits and 40 RBIs in each of his last two seasons and had at least 50 hits in each of his three seasons with the Highlanders. The Timmonium, Maryland, native was the most recent MLB Draft selection from Radford when he was picked in the 24th round in 2019 by the Toronto Blue Jays.

In addition to the three Highlander players selected to the All-Decade Team, current pitching coach Matt Rein, who was one of the top pitchers in the conference during a decorated career at Coastal Carolina, was also selected.

ABOUT THE ALL-DECADE TEAM
The league's All-Decade Teams were first unveiled as part of the Big South's 30th Anniversary celebration in 2013-14 to recognize the student-athletes and coaches who excelled in their respective sport in each decade since the Conference's founding in 1983. Radford's three newest All-Decade Team selections join Phil Leftwich and Travis Morgan from the 1986-89 team, Kelly Dampeer, Duane Filchner and Denny Van Pelt from the 1990-99 team and Alex Gregory from the 2000-09 team.

Baseball All-Decade Team candidates were determined based on being at least one of the following: 1) Was a multiple All-Conference honoree; 2) Was named an All-American; 3) Is a member of the Big South Conference Hall of Fame; 4) Student-athletes must be a college graduate or in good academic standing with their respective institution; 5) Won a Conference Championship as a coach and/or was voted Conference Coach of the Year.

Candidates that participated in two different decades were placed in a specific decade based on consultation from member institutions, and were listed under their primary position during their careers. Member institutions also had final determination in regards to inclusion of student-athletes and coaches. Previous Baseball All-Decade Teams were recognized for the years 1986-89, 1990-99 and 2000-09.

A 15-person committee of Big South Conference administrators served as the official voting panel to determine the All-Decade Team, with fan voting comprising 20 percent of the overall total. The 2010-19 Baseball All-Decade Team is listed below in alphabetical order by position and features six starting pitchers, four relief pitchers, five outfielders, six infielders, one catcher, two utility players, one designated hitter and one head coach. In case of ties, additional honorees have been added.

2010s BIG SOUTH BASEBALL ALL-DECADE TEAM
Position – Name, School
SP – Eddie Butler, Radford
SP – Michael Horrell, Campbell
SP – Jared Lyons, Liberty
SP – Anthony Meo, Coastal Carolina
SP – Nate Pawelczyk, Winthrop
SP – Cody Wheeler, Coastal Carolina
RP – Andrew Beckwith, Coastal Carolina
RP – Aaron Burke, Coastal Carolina
RP – Matt Rein, Coastal Carolina (current Radford pitching coach)
RP – Ryan Thompson, Campbell
OF – D.J. Artis, Liberty
OF – Matthew Barefoot, Campbell
OF – Daniel Bowman, Coastal Carolina
OF – Matt Hillsinger, Radford
OF – Bobby Ison, Charleston Southern
OF – Rico Noel, Coastal Carolina
INF – Spencer Angelis, High Point
INF – Michael Felton, Campbell
INF – Spencer Horwitz, Radford
INF – Tommy La Stella, Coastal Carolina
INF – Michael Paez, Coastal Carolina
INF – Zach Remillard, Coastal Carolina
INF – Collin Thacker, Gardner-Webb
INF – Scott Woodward, Coastal Carolina
C – Jose Iglesias, Coastal Carolina
C – Justin Kunz, Gardner-Webb
UTIL – Cole Hallum, Campbell
UTIL – Connor Owings, Coastal Carolina
DH – Eddie Rohan, Winthrop
DH – Brad Zebedis, Presbyterian

Head Coach, School
Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina

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