AMERICUS - Georgia Southwestern State University seniors Randall Sheffield, Frank Ambrosino, junior Jarrod Taylor and sophomore Les Cromer have earned 2013 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic baseball honors as recently announced by the conference office. Sheffield was named to the All-Academic Team while Ambrosino, Taylor and Cromer received honorable mentions.

Sheffield appeared in 44 games this spring as an outfielder for the Hurricanes. The Panama City Beach, Fla. native hit .354 in conference play and .291 overall. He had a .366 overall on base percentage and was a perfect 14 of 14 on stolen base attempts. Sheffield ended the year strong as he collected six hits in the season-ending series with No. 3 USC Aiken, including a 3-for-4 performance in Game 2 against the Pacers.

In the classroom, the management major owns a 3.625 grade point average and was named the 2013 GSW Baseball Scholar Athlete for highest GPA on the team. Sheffield is also a Chi Alpha Sigma (National College Athlete Honor Society) inductee.  

Ambrosino started 13 games on the mound this spring as a weekend starting pitcher for GSW. The Tampa, Fla. native native threw 89 2/3 innings and recorded 66 strikeouts while only walking 22. After two seasons in a Hurricane uniform, Ambrosino leaves holding the program's NCAA era record for fewest walks averaged over nine innings.

In the classroom, the accounting major is a soon to be two-time member of the PBC Presidential Honor Roll and holds a 3.453 grade point average. Ambrosino was also inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma this spring.

Taylor, a Hawkinsville native, is the lone representative on the club to earn multiple PBC All-Academic honors. The first baseman/designated hitter received an honorable mention in 2012. On the diamond, Taylor finished third on the team this year with a .298 batting average and belted three home runs while driving in 20 runs. He posted a .384 on base percentage.

In the classroom, the exercise science major is a soon to be two-time member of the PBC Presidential Honor Roll and holds a 3.508 grade point average. He joined Sheffield and Ambrosino as a member of Chi Alpha Sigma.

Cromer, a Leesburg native, led GSW this spring with a .452 on base percentage and ranked second on the club with a .308 batting average. He played in 22 games at second base with his top performance coming March 27 at home against West Georgia when he turned in a 4-for-4 night with four RBIs and was part of an error-free defensive effort by the 'Canes.

In the classroom, the accounting major is a soon to be two-time member of the PBC Presidential Honor Roll and holds a 3.411 grade point average.   

The All-Academic Team is part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution.

The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

2012-13 Baseball All-Academic Team

Honorable Mention: Frank Ambrosino, Georgia Southwestern; Justin Appel, Augusta State; Jacob Beauchamp, North Georgia; Daniel Bick, Georgia College; Andrew Brodbeck, Flagler; Les Cromer, Georgia Southwestern; Kip Custer, Augusta State; R.J. Dennard, Armstrong; Zade Denton, UNC Pembroke; Austin Dunn, Lander; Max Gagnon, UNC Pembroke; Chris Hyatt, Lander; Weston Lawling, Lander; Erik Lunde, Lander; Casey Maloney, Armstrong; Hart Mizell, Columbus State; Travis Naraine, North Georgia; Jarrod Taylor, Georgia Southwestern; Tom Valichka, Young Harris.