NEED TO KNOW:
CCS All-Conference First Team: Trace Cate (OF), Zeke Swartz (P), Braden Simms (RP)
CCS All-Conference Second Team: Spencer Muffuletto (2B), Isaak Mullanack (OF)

MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Piedmont baseball placed five student-athletes on the CCS All-Conference listing highlighted by three first team honorees, as released by the league Wednesday. 

Of the five athletes who earned all-conference honors, three of them earned weekly awards through the CCS during the regular season highlighted by Spencer Muffuletto earning Rookie of the Week four times. 

Piedmont placed three (Trace Cate, Zeke Swartz and Braden Simms) on the first team while Mufuletto and Isaak Mullanack earned second team honors. 

Trace Cate, CCS All-Conference First Team (Outfield)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Batting Average: .380 (1st on team, 3rd in CCS)
Hits: 63 (1st on team, 1st in CCS)
RBI: 39 (1st on team, 2nd in CCS)
In-Season Recognition: 1x CCS Player of the Week
Of Note: Cate led the Lions in many statistical categories this season including batting average, hits and RBI. Cate posted 21 multi-hit games in 40 starts and is the only Lion to start every contest this season, anchoring the team in right field. 
 

Zeke Swartz, CCS All-Conference First Team (Pitcher)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Record: 5-2 in 12 appearances over 70.0 IP
ERA: 2.83 (lowest on team among everyday starters)
Strikeouts: 79 (1st on team, 2nd in CCS)
In-Season Awards: 2x CCS Pitcher of the Week
Past CCS Recognition: CCS All-Tournament Team (2023)
Of Note: Swartz served as the Lions' top starter in the rotation this season posting a 2.83 ERA over 12 appearances. He led the team with 79 strikeouts and surrendered four or fewer hits in half his starts in 2024. 
 

Braden Simms, CCS All-Conference First Team (Relief Pitcher)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Saves: 12 (1st on team, 1st in CCS, 1st in NCAA DIII)
ERA: 1.53 (1st on team of pitchers with four or more appearances)
Appearances: 17 (1st on team)
Of Note: Simms currently leads the country in NCAA DIII in saves with his 12. The Lions have utilized Simms in 17 contests over 17.2 IP as he has been effective and efficient with his 1.53 ERA. He has pitched no more than two innings in a game and allowed just three earned runs all season. 

 
Spencer Muffuletto, CCS All-Conference Second Team (Second Base)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Batting Average: .309
Hits: 20
RBI: 17
In-Season Recognition: 4x CCS Rookie of the Week
Of Note: Muffuletto was called into the starting lineup midway through the year as he started 16 contests and appeared in 20. As one of the only freshmen to receive consistent starting time, he made the most of it posting a .309 batting average and earning an all-conference spot in his first season. 
 
Isaak Mullanack, CCS All-Conference Second Team (Outfield)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Batting Average: .366 (2nd on team, 5th in CCS)
Hits: 48 (2nd on team)
RBI: 35 (2nd on team, 5th in CCS)
Of Note: Mullanack sealed his spot in left field for Piedmont this season making 35 starts and posting the second highest batting average on the team. He has five games this season with three or more RBI, posting the second most on the team with 35 this season. 

 

 

Superlative Awards

Player of the Year – Owen Abney, Belhaven

Pitcher of the Year – Brett Sanchez, Belhaven

Rookie Player of the Year – Sam Cecil, Covenant

Rookie Pitcher of the Year – Jonathan Glover, Covenant

Coach of the Year – Clint Helton, Maryville

 

Baseball All-Conference Teams

First Team

C	Ashton Whiteaker	Maryville	Junior	Carlsbad, N.M.
1B	Tristan Pearson	Belhaven	Junior	Biloxi, Miss.
2B	Jimmy Meredith	Maryville	Senior	Cape Coral, Fla.
SS	Jacob Johnston	Maryville	Junior	Chino Hills, Calif.
3B	Owen Abney	Belhaven	Sophomore	Madison, Miss.
OF	Trace Cate	Piedmont	Senior	Marietta, Ga.
OF	Max Bowers	Maryville	Senior	Maryville, Tenn.
OF	Kenny Mills	Covenant	Senior	Stockbridge, Ga.
OF	Rhett Mixon	LaGrange	Graduate Student	Loganville, Ga.
DH	Daniel Montana	Maryville	Junior	Tucson, Ariz.
P	Zeke Swartz	Piedmont	Junior	Blairsville, Ga.
P	Brett Sanchez	Belhaven	Graduate Student	Slidell, La.
P	Dalton Brooks	LaGrange	Senior	Sharpsburg, Ga.
RP	Chris Arbuthnot	Maryville	Senior	Knoxville, Tenn.
RP	Braden Simms	Piedmont	Junior	Oakwood, Ga.

 

Second Team

C	David Smigelski	LaGrange	Senior	Sharpsburg, Ga.
1B	Christian Carlton	Maryville	Senior	Rockwood, Tenn.
2B	Spencer Muffuletto	Piedmont	Freshman	Braselton, Ga.
SS	Zeke Gilbert	Covenant	Senior	Douglasville, Ga.
3B	Zac Graham	Maryville	Senior	Bradenton, Fla.
OF	Colin Dunworth	Maryville	Sophomore	Nolensville, Tenn.
OF	Daniel Phillips	Huntingdon	Senior	Highland Home, Ala.
OF	Gabriel Pallo	LaGrange	Senior	Melbourne, Fla.
OF	Isaak Mullanack	Piedmont	Junior	Blairsville, Ga.
DH	Davis Johnson	Huntingdon	Freshman	Mount Sterling, Ky.
P	Seth Killam	Huntingdon	Senior	Century, Fla.
P	Mitchell Grannan	Maryville	Junior	Chattanooga, Tenn.
P	Bryce Bollinger	Covenant	Senior	Nashville, Tenn.
RP	Xavier Resto	Maryville	Sophomore	Chattanooga, Tenn.
RP	Jonathan Glover	Covenant	Freshman	Ringgold, Ga.

 

All-Sportsmanship Team

Tristan Pearson	Belhaven	First Base	Junior	Biloxi, Miss.
Derek Hay	Berea	Pitcher	Senior	Las Cruces, N.M.
Chase McBryar	Covenant	Outfield	Senior	Chattanooga, Tenn.
Matthew Robinson	Huntingdon	Infield	Senior	Montgomery, Ala.
Jackson McCart	LaGrange		Senior	Macon, Ga.
Brice Klepfer	Maryville	Catcher	Senior	Lake In The Hills, Ill.
Owen Helgesen	Piedmont	Infield	Senior	Marietta, Ga.