June 6, 2005
Monarchs’ Brandt, Maxwell, Spivey selected Division III Baseball All-Region

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The American Baseball Coaches Association released its Division III All-South Region Team on Friday, and the Methodist Monarchs had three representatives selected. Pitchers Ryan Brandt and Blake Maxwell were second team selections, while outfielder Jonathan Spivey was selected third team All-Region.

Brandt, a junior right-hander from Durham, N.C., was the ace of the Monarchs’ starting rotation this season, garnering first team All-USA South Athletic Conference honors and was selected USA South Pitcher of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder went 7-2 with an impressive 2.14 earned-run average with 89 strikeouts and 19 walks in 88-and-a-third innings. In addition, Brandt recorded five complete games with two shutouts.

He led the USA South in games started, innings pitched and strikeouts, while ranking second in the conference in victories.

A junior closer from Hope Mills, N.C., Maxwell had another stellar season as the Monarchs’ closer, garnering first team All-USA South honors. The imposing 6-6, 255-pound right-hander went 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37 innings of work. He tied his Methodist single-season record for saves with nine, and led the USA South in both saves and appearances.

For his career, Maxwell increased his Methodist all-time record for saves to 22.

Spivey, a sophomore from Tabor City, N.C., led the Monarchs in hitting to garner first-team All-USA South honors. The 5-10, 160-pound left fielder hit .372 with two home runs and 33 RBIs, along with eight doubles, four triples, 43 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Spivey led the USA South in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and at-bats, while finishing second in triples, third in total bases and fourth in RBIs.