Posted: Apr 30, 2025

Cadenhead and Kelley Bring Home All-CCS Honors

MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville's Colin Dunworth was recognized as the 2025 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Player of the Year, while Piedmont's left-handed pitcher Zeke Swartz secured the Pitcher of the Year title. Joining a fellow Lion, Ben Connelly was named the CCS Rookie Player of the Year, while LaGrange's Josiah Chiesa earned the CCS Rookie Pitcher of the Year award. Maryville's head coach Clint Helton received the prestigious CCS Coach of the Year accolade for his second consecutive season, a decision made through a vote by the conference's head coaches.

Player of the Year | Colin Dunworth, Maryville

Maryville's Colin Dunworth earned the title of 2025 CCS Player of the Year after an all-around standout campaign from center field. The junior was a force both offensively and defensively, finishing the season with a .374 batting average, good for top 10 in the conference and second on his team. Dunworth led the CCS in slugging percentage (.632) and ranked second in OPS (1.090), while tying for the league lead with seven home runs. His 58 hits were second-most in the conference, and he drove in 35 runs, placing him fourth overall. On the basepaths, he swiped 12 bases, while defensively, he recorded 81 putouts in 85 chances with a .965 fielding percentage and was part of a double play from center field.

Pitcher of the Year | Zeke Swartz, Piedmont

Piedmont's Zeke Swartz claims the 2025 CCS Pitcher of the Year honor after delivering one of the most dominant seasons on the mound in Division III. The junior posted a stellar 1.89 ERA, ranking second in the league and among the top 40 nationally, and his 0.87 WHIP stood 11th in the NCAA. Swartz went 5-1 over 10 starts, tossing 62.0 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .182 batting average, ranking first in the league. He allowed just 41 hits and struck out 76 batters.

Rookie Player of the Year | Ben Connelly, Piedmont

Piedmont's Ben Connelly made an immediate impact in his first collegiate season, starting all 39 games and consistently producing at the plate. The freshman outfielder hit .367 and posted an OPS of .892, with 51 hits, 31 runs scored, and 30 RBI. He also added 10 doubles and one home run while maintaining a .448 on-base percentage.

Rookie Pitcher of the Year | Josiah Chiesa, LaGrange

LaGrange freshman Josiah Chiesa earns CCS Rookie Pitcher of the Year after a breakout debut season. Chiesa compiled a 2.93 ERA across 58.1 innings pitched, starting all 11 of his appearances. He struck out 57 batters and held opponents to a .223 average, ranked second in the league, while recording a 4-4 record.

Coach of the Year | Clint Helton, Maryville

Maryville's Clint Helton has earned his second consecutive Coach of the Year honor after leading the Scots to back-to-back regular season titles and tying the program's single-season wins record (30) — a mark he originally set just last year — with postseason play still ahead. Despite losing 14 seniors from the 2024 squad, Helton retooled his roster and guided Maryville to a 15-3 CCS record, winning all but one conference series and sweeping all but two. Under his leadership, the Scots have gone 29-6 in CCS play over the past two seasons.

2025 CCS Baseball Superlative Awards

Player of the Year – Colin Dunworth, Maryville

Pitcher of the Year – Zeke Swartz, Piedmont

Rookie Player of the Year – Ben Connelly, Piedmont

Rookie Pitcher of the Year – Josiah Chiesa, LaGrange

Coach of the Year – Clint Helton, Maryville

2025 CCS Baseball All-Conference Teams

First Team

C	David Smigelski	LaGrange	Senior	Canton, Ga.
1B	Adam Dorn	LaGrange	Senior	Canton, Ga.
2B	Reece Jordan	Maryville	Sophomore	Chattanooga, Tenn.
SS	Jackson McElvy	LaGrange	Junior	Kennesaw, Ga.
3B	Zeke Gilbert	Covenant	Senior	Douglasville, Ga.
OF	Curt Bonner	LaGrange	Junior	Cartersville, Ga.
OF	JD Weed	Belhaven	Junior	Terry, Miss.
OF	Colin Dunworth	Maryville	Junior	Nolensville, Tenn.
DP	Nick Thornton	Belhaven	Sophomore	Brandon, Miss.
UTIL	Blake McCarthy	Belhaven	Junior	Mandeville, La.
P	Zeke Swartz	Piedmont	Senior	Blairsville, Ga.
P	Kyle Timko	Maryville	Junior	Tampa, Fla.
P	Kade May	Belhaven	Senior	Florence, Miss.
RP	Braden Simms	Piedmont	Senior	Oakwood, Ga.
RP	Brent Cadenhead	Huntingdon	Junior	Pace, Fla.

Second Team

C	Ashton Whiteaker	Maryville	Senior	Carlsbad, N.M.
1B	Tristan Pearson	Belhaven	Senior	Biloxi, Miss.
2B	Hunter Harrell	Belhaven	Senior	Zachary, La.
SS	Brayden Evans	Maryville	Junior	Knoxville, Tenn.
3B	Matt Hall	Maryville	Senior	Lexington, Ky.
OF	Cody Funk	Piedmont	Junior	McDonough, Ga.
OF	Jorge Fragoso	LaGrange	Senior	East Point, Ga.
OF	Cole Ellis	Piedmont	Senior	Woodstock, Ga.
DH	Carter Few	Piedmont	Freshman	Alpharetta, Ga.
UTIL	Brent Cadenhead	Huntingdon	Junior	Pace, Fla.
P	Peyton Irvin	Piedmont	Graduate Student	Cornelia, Ga.
P	Josiah Chiesa	LaGrange	Freshman	Dalton, Ga.
P	Scotty Smith	Covenant	Senior	Cartersville, Ga.
RP	Ethan Goebert	Covenant	Sophomore	New Port Richey, Fla.
RP	Lane Alack	Belhaven	Freshman	Loranger, La.

All-Sportsmanship Team

Ben Propes	Asbury	Sophomore	Birmingham, Ala.
Eli Britt	Belhaven	Senior	Petal, Miss.
Benjamin Johnson	Covenant	Senior	Tranas, Sweden
Sam Kelley	Huntingdon	Sophomore	Brewton, Ala.
Tray Owens	LaGrange	Senior	Franklin, Ga.
Matt Hall	Maryville	Senior	Lexington, Ky.
Jack Gilsenan	Piedmont	Graduate Student	Powder Springs,