2023 Baseball Co-Pitcher of the Year: Sean Smith
***ICYMI: Boys Golfer of the Year: John Logan***
***ICYMI: Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Hayes Gilbert***
***ICYMI: Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Hannah Grace***
***ICYMI: Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Brethan Barnhill***
***ICYMI: Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year: Lillian Austin***
***ICYMI: Boys Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Long***
***ICYMI: Boys Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year: Kenan Everhart***
***ICYMI: Softball Offensive Player of the Year: Macey Ciamillo***
***ICYMI: Softball Pitcher of the Year: Kina Davis***
***ICYMI: Girls Soccer Defensive Player of the Year: Ellie Zimmerman***
***ICYMI: Girls Soccer Co-Offensive Player of the Year: Ella Johnson***
***ICYMI: Girls Soccer Co-Offensive Player of the Year: Karina Peat***
Now that the spring sports season has come to a close, it’s time to reveal the All-Coastal Preps teams. Over the past two weeks, you’ve gotten to know more about the players of the year, while also seeing who made first and second team in boys golf, boys tennis, boys and girls track & field, boys and girls lacrosse, softball, girls soccer and baseball.
The Coastal Preps Baseball Pitcher of the Year is senior Sean Smith of New Hanover.
Sean’s Accomplishments
Sean Smith was part of the most impressive starting rotation in the area, alongside fellow Coastal Preps Co-Pitcher of the Year Bromley Thornton.
Smith went 9-1 with a 0.64 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings. He threw six complete games, including a dominant 1-hit shutout against Laney on April 25 in which he struck out a season-high 14 batters.
The UNC Greensboro signee didn’t allow more than two earned runs in any of his 11 appearances. He struck out eight or more batters on six occasions to help New Hanover finish 24-3 and reach the fourth round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs. The Wildcats claimed the Mideastern Conference title by two games with a 12-2 record.
New Hanover senior Sean Smith is the 2023 Coastal Preps Baseball Pitcher Player of the Year. [Photo courtesy of Rodney Williams]
More about Sean
Favorite Movie(s): The Amazing Spider-Man
Favorite TV Show(s): The Flash
Favorite memory from this season: Almost throwing a perfect game against Laney.
Favorite memory from your career: Either the game-tying home run against Topsail or almost throwing a perfect game.
Favorite thing about your school or team: How close we are to each other. I’ve known almost all of them since I was little, and I really saw all of them as brothers.
Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals? If so, what are they?: I have to get a McChicken, park in a certain spot and run three sprints before every game
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?: Either France, Italy or Israel
Are you a morning or night person?: Morning
What is something you could eat for a week straight?: Burgers and fries
What app on your phone do you use the most?: Snapchat
Would you rather dance or sing in front of a group of people?: Dance
