Local results: Aranas, Carmon chosen to Tino Martinez Award Watch List

Aranas, Carmon on award watch list

OMAHA, Neb. - USC Aiken baseball seniors Nick Aranas and Stephen Carmon were added to the 2012 Tino Martinez Award Watch List.

The Tino Martinez Award is given at the conclusion of the baseball season to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division II College Baseball. The annual honor is named after the former University of Tampa Spartan, Olympian and Major League Baseball All-Star Tino Martinez.

A 2012 First-Team National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-American, Aranas was also named to the 2011 Tino Martinez Award Watch List before missing the entire 2011 season due to injury.

A 2012 Preseason All-Peach Belt Conference selection, Aranas opened the 2012 season for the Pacers by hitting .364 with four RBIs and three runs scored in USC Aiken's three-game sweep of Lincoln Memorial at Roberto Hernandez Stadium this past weekend.

The Pacer shortstop opened this season by being named the South Carolina Education Lottery USCA Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday. Carmon concluded USCA's three-game sweep of Lincoln Memorial with a .500 batting average. The Camden native claimed a team-best six runs scored in the first three games of the season for the Pacers. Carmon collected four RBIs over the course of the three games.

Carmon finished his 2011 season in the top 10 in the PBC in 13 different offensive categories. He was also second in the league in assists with 162. He concluded his junior campaign hitting .373 with 46 runs scored and 26 RBIs. He finished his season with 28 extra-base hits on 17 doubles, seven triples and four home runs.

The list will be updated with a mid-season release in mid-April. Semifinalists are scheduled to be announced on May 7 with the finalists to be named on May 21.

After the finalists are named, fans will be invited to vote online at tinoaward.com to help determine the winner. The winner will be announced after the conclusion of the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships held in Cary, N.C. from May 26 to June 2.

USCA to offer tickets to law enforcement

USCA announced on Monday that all law enforcement individuals and their families will receive complimentary tickets to each of the remaining three home basketball doubleheaders at the Convocation Center.

"With the events that have happened over the past couple of months with Aiken Public Safety, USC Aiken wants to do its part," noted USCA Athletic Director Randy Warrick. "We feel that this would provide these individuals a way to get away and take their mind off of work, while enjoying high-quality collegiate basketball. We would love for them to come to one or all of the remaining games."

All the law enforcement community (police, sheriff's department, firemen, highway patrol, etc.) need to do is show their badge at the Convocation Center ticket window to claim their complimentary tickets for themselves and their families.

Basketball

South Aiken JV girls 28

White Knoll JV girls 24

South Aiken High School's junior varsity girls improved to 9-5 on the year with a win over White Knoll Monday. Keisha Whitaker had eight points for the Thoroughbreds, who will be at Aiken on Wednesday, while Randi Damron scored seven.

South Aiken JV boys 45, White Knoll 37

South Aiken's DJ Perry had 17 points, and Kingsley Priester had 12. White Knoll's Zack Knight had 10 points, and Gregg Smith had six.

Aiken County Middle School Basketball Tournament

Paul Knox MS girls 26, Kennedy MS 21

Paul Knox's Sierra Sanders and Alli Bell had eight points each in Paul Knox's win over Kennedy on Monday in the Aiken County Middle School Tournament semifinals, held at Aiken Middle School. Paul Knox's girls' squad will play the winner of a basketball game between Aiken Middle and North Augusta, which will be held today, in the championship game on Thursday.

Schofield MS boys 40, Leavelle McCampbell 17

Schofield's Bryson Jones and Josh Kaiser led the Rams with 11 points each to advance Schofield Middle School's boys' team in the Aiken County Middle School Championship on Monday. Schofield will play the winner of a basketball game between Aiken Middle School and Jackson Middle School, which will be held today, on Thursday.