PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UConn southpaw Mason Feole and ECU outfielder Bryant Packard continue to shine in the preseason, as the two All-Americans were named to the USA Baseball 2019 Golden Spikes Award Preseason watch list, as announced by the organization on Thursday. Coming off tremendous 2018 seasons, both athletes have been recognized in the offseason with Packard collecting five
preseason All-America nods and Feole earning four.
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. USA Baseball announced its 55-player list, as the 42nd Golden Spikes Award will be presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation on June 14. For more information, visit
GoldenSpikesAward.com.
Since 2014, The American has maintained a consistent presence on the Golden Spikes Award Preseason watch list with 15 players from around the league featured and at least two players making the list for the past six seasons. Eighteen conferences are represented on the preseason watch list in 2019, as The American was one of seven leagues to boast multiple athletes on the list.
Feole, the conference’s unanimous Preseason Pitcher of the Year, was placed on the list following a stellar sophomore season that ended with him being selected to pitch for the 2018 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Feole was named All-America by ABCA/Rawlings, Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America and Perfect Game at the end of the 2018 season. The southpaw finished the year with a 2.50 ERA, nine wins and 120 strikeouts through 16 starts and 100.2 innings pitched. His wins and strikeouts both ended the year tied for first in The American.
Packard, The American’s 2018 Player of the Year and 2019 Preseason Player of the Year, guided the Pirates to their second American title before becoming the third conference program to be chosen as an NCAA Regional host. He became the first player in ECU history to earn seven All-America nods in a single season. Packard had at least one hit in a record 32-consecutive games on the way to setting the league’s single-season batting average record at .406, which ended the year ranked sixth nationally. He also stood first in the American Athletic Conference in hits (89), slugging percentage (.671) and total bases (147) and was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. Packard capped his 2018 season earning a roster spot on the Collegiate National Team.
The 2019 baseball season begins on Friday, February 15, as all nine American Athletic Conference teams will be in action.