1/22/20

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Three University of North Georgia baseball players were named to the Peach Belt Conference’s Preseason All-Conference team, the conference office announced Wednesday morning. Bill LeRoy was named the second baseman, Nick Clarno the third baseman and Crews Taylor as one of the outfielders.

A senior from Dublin, Georgia, LeRoy hit .319 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 42 RBI in 2019. He ranked seventh in the PBC in RBI, 10th in total hits and 16th in on-base percentage. Playing catcher last season, LeRoy had 18 multi-hit games last season with six games of 3+ hits and 12 multi-RBI games on his way to being named a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Bronze Scholar.

A junior from Grayson, Georgia, Clarno hit .282 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 42 RBIs last year, ranking seventh in the league in RBI, eighth in total bases, 10th in RBI and 13th in home runs. He was named PBC Player of the Week on February 12 and a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Silver Scholar.

A junior from Lawrenceville, Georgia, Taylor hit .319 with 17 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs last season. He led the PBC in runs scored and plate appearances and was fourth in hits, doubles and total bases; he also ranked eighth in home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Taylor hit safely in 14 of the last 18 games of 2019 with nine multi-hit games.

The Nighthawks will take to the field on January 31 to open the 2020 season with a three-game set against Auburn Montgomery. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. at Bob Stein Stadium.