FIVE SEAHAWKS EARN ALL-COLONIAL HONORS

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Seniors John Raynor and Matt Poulk led three Seahawks on the first-team as UNC Wilmington totaled five All-Colonial Athletic Association selections the league announced Tuesday night at its annual Awards Banquet. Junior catcher Chris Hatcher rounded out UNCW's first team honorees while junior first baseman Jonathan Batts and senior reliever Adam Paul were named to the second-team.

James Madison sophomore outfielder Kellen Kulbacki was named the Bill Brooks Player-of-the-Year after leading the Dukes to the regular season championship. Virginia Commonwealth sophomore shortstop Sergio Miranda earned his second straight Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors while Delaware freshman third baseman Alex Buchholz was named Rookie-of-the-Year.

Raynor, an outfielder and 12th-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2005, paced the Seahawks with a career-high .399 batting average while also setting career-bests in runs batted in (61) and stolen bases (39) entering the CAA Championship Tournament this week at Brooks Field. Raynor, a native of Benson, N.C., was also one of a school-record four hitters with 11 or more home runs on the season.

Poulk, a third baseman from Morehead City, N.C., hit .325 with a career-best 12 homers and 40 RBI's. In the field, Poulk has fashioned a fielding percentage of .965 with just five errors on the season. Against James Madison, Poulk collected his 58th career double to become UNCW's all-time leader.

Both Raynor and Poulk were first-team members in 2005.

Hatcher, a junior from Kinston, N.C., was a second-team selection as a sophomore. In 2006, he has hit .362 with seven home runs and 47 RBI's from his leadoff spot in the Seahawk lineup. Behind the plate, the strong-armed receiver has thrown out 32 percent of potential bases stealers while opponents have attempted just 45 steals against the Seahawks this season.

Batts, a native of Wilmington, drove in 54 runs on the strength of a .338 batting average and team-leading 12 home runs. Batts, a second-team selection as a freshman in 2004, has driven in five or more runs in a game four times this season.

Paul, a first-team honoree in 2005, recorded a conference-leading nine saves while posting a 5-2 mark out of the bullpen. In 30 appearances, the Raleigh, N.C. native owns a 2.38 earned run average and held opponents to a .238 batting average.