AUGUSTA, GA (June 20, 2023) – After a season of terrific play on the diamond and hard work in the classroom, three Claflin Panthers were announced as members of the 2022-23 Peach Belt Conference Baseball Team of Academic Distinction presented by Barnes & Noble College. Earning a spot on the team only comes because of a season of athletic and academic achievements.
Eligibility for the team only comes to student-athletes who have both participated in at least half of his team’s games, be either a starter or significant contributor, has achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, and has completed at least one full academic year at his current institution.
The Panther trio of graduate infielder Malcolm Brown, senior catcher DeShawnte Carraway, and senior second base Austin Montgomery all earned their spots on the team. Carraway was a cornerstone for the Panthers after playing in 25 games with 24 starts for the team. Primarily playing at the catcher position, Carraway finished the season with a .233 batting average while compiling a 3.67 GPA as a Human Performance & Recreation major. Montgomery got the most time on the diamond with 31 games played in 27 starts. He also compiled a 3.90 GPA as a Sports Management major.
Barnes & Noble College currently operates more than 1,400 campus bookstores and their school-branded e-commerce sites, serving more than 6 million college students and faculty nationwide. As a strategic partner, Barnes & Noble College is a retail and learning company. The company is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.