SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford head coach Casey Dunn was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media, while Zach Hester was named the media's Pitcher of the Year, and Sonny DiChiara earned the media's Freshman of the Year honors when the league released its postseason baseball awards Monday afternoon.
 
Western Carolina's Justice Bigbie was named the league's Player of the Year by both the coached and media. The coaches also tabbed UNCG's Chad Sykes as Pitcher of the Year, and Wofford's Hayes Heinecke as Freshman of the Year.
 
In addition to the specialty awards, the league's All-SoCon and All-Freshman teams were released as well. On the Media All-SoCon team, Hester, DiChiara, outfielder Jordan Fucci and designated hitter Brooks Carlson were named to the first team. Relief pitcher Stephen Jones and shortstop Branden Fryman were named to the media's second team.
 
Hester, DiChiara, Fryman, Fucci and Carlson were all named first team All-SoCon by the league's coaches. Jones earned second team honors from the coaches. DiChiara was also named to the coaches' All-Freshman team.
 
Dunn has led this year's team to the best regular season in program history, winning 39 games. The 39 victories are the most regular-season wins in school history, and are just two shy of the complete season record of 41, set in 2012. The Bulldogs also earned the program's first Southern Conference regular season title, posted a 19-5 league record.
 
Hester has posted a 7-4 record this season with a 2.09 ERA in 77.2 innings of work. He has recorded 78 strikeouts, while allowing just 12 walks all season, and limiting opposing batters to a .210 batting average.
 
DiChiara ranked second in the Southern Conference and led all SoCon freshmen with 18 home runs this season. He also led the Bulldogs with 51 RBI and an impressive .622 slugging percentage.
 
Samford enters this week's Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Bulldogs will open the tournament by playing either The Citadel or Western Carolina Wednesday at 8 a.m. (CT).
 
2019 SoCon Sports Media Association Baseball All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Justice Bigbie, 3B, Western Carolina, So. 
Pitcher of the Year – Zach Hester, RHP, Samford, Jr.  
Freshman of the Year – Sonny DiChiara, 1B, Samford
Coach of the Year – Casey Dunn, Samford
 
 First team
SP                   Zach Hester, Samford
SP                   Micah Kaczor, ETSU
RP                   Chad Sykes, UNCG, R-Sr.
C                     Jackson Greer, ETSU, Jr.
1B                    Sonny DiChiara, Samford, Fr.
2B                    Brett Rodriguez, Wofford, Jr. 
SS                   Zack Budzik, UNCG, Fr.
3B                    Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, So.  
OF                   Matthew Koehler, Western Carolina, R-Sr.
OF                   Jordan Fucci, Samford, R-Jr.
OF                   Jabari Richards, Furman, Sr. 
DH                   Brooks Carlson, Samford, So.
 
Second team
SP                   Hayes Heinecke, Wofford,  Fr.
SP                   Zak Kent, VMI, Jr.   
RP                   Stephen Jones, Samford, Sr. 
C                     Dax Roper, Furman, R-So. 
1B                    Angelo DiSpigna, Mercer, Fr.
2B                    Cullen Smith, ETSU, Jr.
SS                   Branden Fryman, Samford, Jr.
3B                    John Dempsey, Wofford, Fr.
OF                   Kel Johnson, Mercer, Graduate Student
OF                   Greg Hardison, UNCG, So.
OF                   Mike Brown, Wofford, Jr.
DH                   Hogan Windish, UNCG, R-Fr.
 
2019 SoCon Baseball Coaches All-Southern Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Justice Bigbie, 3B, Western Carolina, So.
Pitcher of the Year – Chad Sykes, RHP, UNCG, R-Sr.
Freshman of the Year – Hayes Heinecke, RHP, Wofford
Coach of the Year – Casey Dunn, Samford  
First team
SP                   Micah Kaczor, RHP, ETSU, Sr. 
SP                   Zach Hester, RHP, Samford, Jr.
RP                   Chad Sykes, RHP, UNCG, R-Sr. 
C                     Jackson Greer, ETSU, Jr. 
1B                    Sonny DiChiara, Samford, Fr.
2B                    Brett Rodriguez, Wofford, Jr.
SS                   Brandon Fryman, Samford, Jr.
3B                    Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, So.
OF                   Matthew Koehler, Western Carolina, R-Sr. 
OF                   Kel Johnson, Mercer, Graduate Student
OF                   Jordan Fucci, Samford, R-Jr.
DH                   Brooks Carlson, Samford, So.  
 
Second team (13 due to tie in voting)
SP                   Hayes Heinecke, Wofford, Fr.
SP                   Kevin Coulter, Mercer, Sr. 
RP                   Stephen Jones, Samford, Sr.
C                     Dax Roper, Furman, R-So. 
1B                    Ben Peden, The Citadel, Sr.
2B                    Cullen Smith, ETSU, Jr.
SS                   RJ Yeager, Mercer, So.
3B                    John Dempsey, Wofford, Fr.
3B                    Caleb Webster, UNCG, Jr.
OF                   Jabari Richards, Furman, Sr.
OF                   Hudson Byorick, Wofford, Jr.
OF                   Colin Davis, Wofford, So.
DH                   Hogan Windish, UNCG, R-Fr.   
 
All-freshman team (13 due to tie in voting)
Tyler Corbitt, INF, The Citadel
Colby Emmertz, OF/C, ETSU
Nathanial Tate, RHP, ETSU
Rob Hughes, RHP, Furman
Angelo DiSpigna, INF, Mercer
Zack Budzik, INF, UNCG,  
Austin Koehn, RHP, UNCG
Hogan Windish, INF, UNCG
Sonny DiChiara, INF, Samford
Colin Bertsch, INF, Western Carolina
Matty Brown, INF, Wofford
John Dempsey, INF, Wofford
Hayes Heinecke, RHP, Wofford