Moss, Johnson, Cuthrell, T. Berry make first-team All-Big East

- Benton Moss, Hobbs Johnson, Collins Cuthrell, Thomas Berry

WILSON - With second-place team Wilson Hunt making it all the way to the NCHSAA 3-A state championship series, the release of the Big East Conference All-Conference baseball team was delayed.

But Tuesday, the honorees were announced.

Rocky Mount, which claimed the regular season title, led the squad with four selections to the first team - topped by junior Benton Moss, who was also voted Pitcher of the Year. Moss will sign with North Carolina this fall. Seniors Collins Cuthrell (Barton), Hobbs Johnson (North Carolina) and junior Thomas Berry also received first-team nods.

Only one other Nash County squad had a first-teamer. Nash Central.Bulldog center fielder and senior T.J. Taylor was that selection. Taylor reportedly will be playing for Wake Community College next season.

Southern Nash, Northern Nash and Nash Central each had players selected to the second team. The Knights saw senior Brandon Denton and junior Jeremy Lucas tabbed for the second team. Southern Nash saw senior Kyle Shields and junior Luke Mercer also make the second team.

The Bulldogs' lone second-team selection was Jalen Hendricks.

Wilson Hunt senior Zach Houchins was voted Player of the Year, while Hunt head coach Jon Smith was accorded Coach of the Year honors. Houchins, a senior who started his career at Wilson Fike, batted .530 (53-100), scored 41 runs, knocked in 33 runs and tallied 14 doubles, a triple and six home runs.

2010 Big East Baseball All-Conference Teams

First team

Thomas Berry, Rocky Mount

Collins Cuthrell, Rocky Mount

Zach Houchins, Wilson Hunt

Hobbs Johnson, Rocky Mount

Zack Lee, Wilson Hunt

Benton Moss, Rocky Mount

Kyle Pittman, Wilson Hunt

William Prince, Wilson Fike

T.J. Taylor, Nash Central

Mitchell Wheeler, Wilson Fike

Second Team

Matthew Berry, Rocky Mount

Spencer Bell, Rocky Mount

Cody Britt, Wilson Hunt

Michael McLawhorn, Wilson Fike

Cullen Carter, Wilson Fike

Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central

Brandon Denton, Northern Nash

Jeremy Lucas, Northern Nash

Luke Mercer, Southern Nash

Kyle Shields, Southern Nash


Honorable Mention

Tevin Boykin, Southern Nash

Tyler Mizelle, Nash Central

Jackson Pardue, Wilson Fike

Fuller Weatherly, Northern Nash

Michael Whitehead, Rocky Mount

Seth Wiggs, Wilson Hunt

Player of the Year

Zack Houchins, Wilson Hunt

Pitcher of the Year

Benton Moss, Rocky Mount

Coach of the Year

Jon Smith, Wilson Hunt