Baseball: Elephants' Kemp, Gonzalez head All-Region 8-AAA selections

GAINESVILLE -- The 2012 Region 8-AAA All-Region baseball team was announced Wednesday, and as expected Gainesville dominated the selections after advancing to the Class AAA semifinals.

Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp was named Coach of the Year while David Gonzalez, a University of Georgia signee, was named Pitcher of the Year. The Elephants' Stephen Mason shared Hitter of the Year honors with Johnson's Trae Wilson.

Gonzalez joined teammates Michael Gettys and Hunter Anglin as All-Region pitchers. Spencer Adams of White County, Preston Graham of North Hall, Drew Merritt of Walnut Grove, AJ Benefield of Johnson, Dustin McCall of Stephens County, Brent Honeywell and Taylor Childers of Franklin County, Bobby Holmes of Oconee, and Lanier's Kameron Doster also were selected as All-Region pitchers.

For infield position players, Skyler Weber of Gainesville was named as catcher, Johnson's Benefield was selected at first base, Gainesville's Mason was selected at second base, Johnson's Wilson was named at third base, and Will Anderson of Lumpkin County was selected at shortstop. Anglin of Gainesville, Andrew Smith of North Hall, Ryan Cleveland of Stephens County, Walnut Grove's Nathan Blanchard, and Jesse Strickland of North Hall were selected as infielders.

In the outfield, Ryan Griffith of Gainesville, Chris White of Johnson, Gainesville's Gettys, Davis Aiken of Oconee County, West Hall's Jake Shirley, Montana Saine of White County, and Kevin Clark of Lanier were all selected.

Brett Westmoreland of White County was named at designated hitter and Conner White of Oconee County chosen at utility.

All All-Region selections were chosen by Region 8-AAA coaches.