Ben Boulware, baseball signees Wales Toney, Andrew Cox named all-area

Three Clemson recruits – one in football and two in baseball – have been named to the Independent Mail’s Baseball All-Area first-team.

Football commitment Ben Boulware of T.L. Hanna High in Anderson was one of two catchers named to the squad.

Boulware, who is rated as the No. 35 linebacker prospect in the nation by Rivals, batted .493 with 12 homers and 30 RBI. He was named to the all-state Class 4-A team.

Boulware, whose brother Garrett is a rising sophomore on the Clemson baseball team, also plans to play baseball for the Tigers.

Also earning first-team honors were Clemson baseball signees Andrew Cox, an outfielder from Belton-Honea Path High, and pitcher Wales Toney, from T.L. Hanna High.

Cox, an early commitment to South Carolina who switched to Clemson after his brother played for the Tigers, batted .379 with one homer and 22 runs batted in.

Toney was named to the All-Area team has a utility player. He batted .329 with two homers and 13 runs batted in, and as a pitcher posted a 4-5 record, with a 1.89 ERA and 85 strikeouts.

Independent Mail All-Area First Team

Catchers

Ben Boulware, T.L. Hanna, Jr., .493, 12 HR, 30 RBI, All-State, All-Region 1-AAAA.

Erven Roper, Wren, Jr., .372, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 21 Runs, All-Region 1-AAAA

Infielders

Trey Hayes, Palmetto, Sr., .342, 27 RBI, 25 runs, 5-0, 0.14 ERA, All-State, AIM POY, Region 1-AA POY

Michael Rochester, B-HP, So., .432, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 13 runs, All-Region 1-AAA

Matt Williams, B-HP, Jr., .402, 17 RBI, 28 runs, 8-1, 1.59 ERA, 48 SO, All-Region 1-AAA

Justin Cliburn, Walhalla, Jr., .349, 21 RBI, 15 runs, 6-1, 1.16 ERA, 36 SO, All-Region 1-AAA

Eli White, Wren, Jr. .337, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 29 runs, All-Region 1-AAAA

Outfielders

Andrew Cox, B-HP, Sr., .379, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 20 runs, All-Region 1-AAA

Tim Slaton, Pendleton, Sr., .350, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 31 runs, All-Region 1-AA

Taylor Vassey, Seneca, Sr., .404, 15 RBI, All-Region 1-AAA

Pitchers

Kyle Edwards, Seneca, Sr., 5-3, 2.05 ERA, 72 SO, All-State, Region 1-AAA POY

Tyler Jackson, Wren, Sr., 8-2, 1.64 ERA, 47 SO, All-State, All-Region 1-AAAA

Garrett Lovorn, Pendleton, Sr., 6-3, 2.67, 94 SO, All-State, All-Region 1-AA

Utility

Steven Cooper, Palmetto, Sr., .349, 23 RBI, 20 runs, 7-1, 1.58 ERA, All-State, All-Region 1-AA

Wales Toney, T.L. Hanna, Sr., .329, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 14 runs, 4-5, 1.89 ERA, 85 SO, All-Region 1-AAAA

Wayne Parker, Palmetto, Sr., 7-1, 0.89 ERA, 1 save, 65 SO, All-Region