UNCWs Golden, Royalty sweep CAA Player, Pitcher of Year awards

Their selection marks the first time in CAA history that players from the same team have swept the honors in consecutive seasons. Seahawks Nick Feight and Ryan Foster earned the awards for their performances in 2016

UNCW Athletic Communications photo—UNCW Athletic Communications photo
Casey Golden led the CAA with 18 homers and a .622 slugging percentage while hitting .306 with 12 doubles

For the second straight year, UNC Wilmington players have won the Colonial Athletic Association’s top two individual baseball awards. Senior outfielder Casey Golden was named the league’s Player of the Year on Tuesday while sophomore Alex Royalty is the conference’s Pitcher of the Year. Their selection marks the first time in CAA history that players from the same team have swept the honors in consecutive seasons. Seahawks Nick Feight and Ryan Foster earned the awards for their performances in 2016. Golden led the CAA with 18 homers and a .622 slugging percentage while hitting .306 with 12 doubles, 36 RBI and 50 runs scored. He ranks among the top 10 on his school’s career list in homers (37), hits, runs scored (161), doubles (48) and RBI (141) heading into this week’s conference tournament in Wilmington. He is the sixth UNCW player to win the league’s Player of the Year award. Royalty, the fourth Seahawk in the past five years to be named the CAA’s best pitcher, posted an 8-2 record with a conference-best 98 strikeouts and a 3.38 earned run average in 90⅔ innings. The right-hander was 6-1 in league play while helping UNC recover from a slow start to finish just a half game out of first place. Golden and Royalty are joined on the All-ACC first team by Feight, who was recognized as a designated hitter and catcher Ryan Jeffers. Second baseman Brian Mims was a second team All-CAA selection and relief pitcher Clark Cota made the third team while freshman starting pitcher Zarion Sharpe was named to the league’s All-Freshman team. Elon’s Kyle Brnovich was chosen as the CAA’s Rookie of the Year, becoming only the second pitcher in the past seven seasons to earn the honor. The freshman right-hander went 6-4 with five of the wins coming in conference play. His 3.13 earned run average ranked second in the leage while the .192 batting average opponents hit against him was the best in the league. Brnovich was also named to the All-CAA first team, where he was joined by shortstop Ryne Ogren. Other Elon players honored include second team outfielder Kyle Jackson and third team catcher Hayden Pratt. Here is the full list of postseason CAA baseball honors:PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Casey Golden, OF, UNCWPITCHER OF THE YEAR: Alex Royalty, RHP, UNCWDEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Max Burt, SS, NortheasternROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kyle Brnovich, RHP, ElonCOACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Glavine, NortheasternALL-CAA BASEBALL TEAMFIRST TEAMC — Ryan Jeffers, UNCW, Soph., Raleigh1B — Nick Patten, Delaware, Soph., Butler, Pa.2B — Cullen Large, William & Mary, Jr., Chesterfield, Va.SS — Ryne Ogren, Elon, Jr., Devon, Pa.3B — Tommy Richter, Col. of Charleston, Jr., Wayne, Pa.OF — Jordan Glover, Delaware, Sr., Marlton, NJOF — Casey Golden, UNCW, Sr., Siler CityOF — Logan McRae, Col. of Charleston, Soph., Florence, SCUT — Teddy Cillis, Hofstra, Jr., Latham, NYDH — Nick Feight, UNCW, Jr., Gainesville, Va.SP — Kyle Brnovich, Elon, Fr., Milton, Ga.SP — Alex Royalty, UNCW, Soph., RaleighRP — Burk FitzPatrick, Delaware, Sr., Berwyn, Pa.SECOND TEAMC — Brian Mayer, Delaware, Sr., Brick, NJ1B — Cam Hanley, Northeastern, Sr. Walpole, Mass.2B — Brian Mims, UNCW, Jr., Montclair, Va.SS — Jeremy Ake, Delaware, Sr., Readington, NJ3B — David Leiderman, Hofstra, Sr., Merrick, NYOF — Kyle Jackson, Elon, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.OF — Brandon Raquet, William & Mary, Fr., Boalsburg, Pa.OF — Adam Sisk, James Madison, Jr., Fairfax, Va.UT — Charlie McConnell, Northeastern, Soph., Reading. Mass.DH — Doug Trimble, Delaware, Sr., Rosemont, Pa.SP — Ron Marinaccio, Delaware, Jr., Toms River, NJSP — Evan Sisk, Col. of Charleston, Soph, Chester, SCRP — Carter Love, Col. of Charleston, Jr., CharlotteTHIRD TEAMC — Hayden Platt, Elon, Jr., Naples, Fla.1B — Brett Johnson, James Madison, Sr., Charlottesville, Va.2B — Nick Tierno, Delaware, Sr., Voorhees, NJSS — Max Burt, Northeastern, Jr., N. Andover, Mass.3B — Diaz Nardo, Delaware, Jr., Harbeson, Del.UT — Fox Semones, James Madison, Fr., Woodbridge, Va.DH — Ryder Miconi, William & Mary, Sr., Guilford, Conn.OF — Ryan Hall, William & Mary, Jr., Richmond, Va.OF — Kevin Mohollen, Delaware, Soph., Rose Valley, Pa.OF — Calvin Scott, Delaware, Jr., Newark, Del.SP — Brian Christian, Northeastern, Jr., Plymouth, Mass.SP — Mike Fitzgerald, Northeastern, Sr., Holland, Pa.RP — Clark Cota, UNCW, Sophomore, HampstedALL-ROOKIE TEAMP — Kyle Brnovich, Elon, Milton, Ga.P — Jakob Frishmuth, Col. of Charleston, Myrtle Beach, SCIF — Scott Holzwasser, Northea