Appalachian State University second baseman Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) and relief pitcher Chris Patterson (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County) both earned second-team ABCA/Rawlings all-Atlantic Region recognition from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) on Thursday.

The ABCA’s Atlantic Region is comprised of teams from the college baseball hotbeds of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Appalachian was one of only five schools with multiple all-Atlantic Region selections, joining national powers Georgia Tech, Virginia, Coastal Carolina and Miami (Fla.).

Hobson enjoyed the most productive season of his record-breaking career as a senior this spring, winning the Southern Conference batting title with a .404 average. He also ranked among the conference leaders with 95 hits, a school-record 69 runs scored, 22 doubles, 11 home runs, 54 RBI, a .655 slugging percentage, .474 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases en route to third-team all-America and first-team all-state and all-conference accolades.

In 206 career games, Hobson hit .362 and set ASU all-time records with 318 hits, 879 at-bats, 223 runs, 78 doubles and 504 total bases.

He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 40th round of this month’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and began his professional career earlier this week with the Arizona Giants of the rookie-level Arizona League.

After setting up for all-American Zach Quate as a junior, Patterson established himself as the SoCon’s premier closer in 2010. His SoCon-best 13 saves broke his predecessor’s year-old school record of 11 and led the nation for much of the season. He finished his senior campaign with a 4-4 record, 1.67 ERA, .213 opponents’ batting average and 60 strikeouts in 29 appearances. He surrendered just eight earned runs on 34 hits and walked only 13 over 43 innings of work.

Patterson was especially impressive in 26 regular-season appearances, going 3-2 with a 0.96 ERA, .182 opponents’ batting average and 55 strikeouts. He allowed just 25 hits and four earned runs and issuing only nine walks in 37.1 innings en route to first-team all-conference recognition.

He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 26th round of the MLB Draft and has begun his professional career with the nearby Johnson City Cardinals of the rookie-level Appalachian League.

After not having a member of the all-region team in 20 years, four Mountaineers have earned the honor over the past two seasons. Quate and third baseman Isaac Harrow were all-region honorees in 2009.

2010 ABCA/RAWLINGS ALL-ATLANTIC REGION TEAM
First Team
C: Yasmani Grandal, Miami
1B: Tony Plagman, Georgia Tech
2B: Dallas Poulk, North Carolina State
3B: Matt Leeds, College of Charleston
SS: Derek Dietrich, Georgia Tech
OF: Chris Duffy, UCF
OF: Nate Roberts, High Point
OF: Kyle Parker, Clemson
DH: Mac Doyle, Wofford
SP: Anthony Meo, Coastal Carolina
SP: Danny Hultzen, Virginia
SP: Asher Wojciechowski, The Citadel
SP: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech
RP: Kevin Arico, Virginia

Second Team
C: Jose Iglesias, Coastal Carolina
1B: Kyle Blackburn, Georgia Southern
2B: Wes Hobson, Appalachian State
3B: Matt Skole, Georgia Tech
SS: Jake Lemmerman, Duke
OF: Tyler Holt, Florida State
OF: Phil Gosselin, Virginia
OF: Austin Wates, Virginia Tech
DH: Thomas Nichols, Georgia Tech
SP: Cody Wheeler, Coastal Carolina
SP: Matt Harvey, North Carolina
SP: Chris Hernandez, Miami
RP: Chris Patterson, Appalachian State
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