USC Aiken's Howard named All-American

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- USC Aiken designated hitter Travis Howard was named to the 2010 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Preseason All-America first team.

Howard was a consensus first team All-America selection last season as a junior after being chosen to the Daktronics All-America first team and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) first team. He was also tabbed to the NCBWA first team.

The 2009 Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year, Howard had one of the most prolific regular seasons on offense in 2009 not only in USCA and Peach Belt Conference history, but in NCAA Division II history.

Howard, who was also named to the All-Peach Belt Conference first team, finished with 103 RBI to tie Jason Jones' (Kennesaw State) PBC record originally set in 1998. He just missed tying the Division II record of 104 set by Jarred McAlvain of Central Oklahoma in 1997.

Howard had an incredible 38 extra-base hits in the 2009 regular season, finishing the regular season with 19 home runs, 16 doubles and three triples. The power numbers helped Howard own a slugging percentage of .694.

The only player to be named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week three times in 2009, Howard ended the year in the top 10 in the Peach Belt Conference in 10 different offensive categories, including hits, runs scored, home runs, doubles, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, total plate appearances, at-bats and sacrifice flies. Howard had 31 multiple hit games in 2009, finishing the year with 29 multiple RBI games, including four contests with five or more RBI.

USC Aiken's 2009 baseball team ended the year tied with Central Missouri for 10th in the final Division II poll. The Pacers were ranked as high as No. 2 en route to their second ever Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.

The Pacers' 42 wins in 2009 leave the program entering the 2010 campaign with five consecutive 40-win seasons. The Pacers will begin their 2010 season with a three-game home series against Lincoln Memorial, from Feb. 5-7.