Indians place four on All-Panhandle Conference Teams

Brady Browning and Edian Espinal were named to the All-Panhandle Conference First Team on Tuesday. Elgin Bennett and Dillon Haines Haines were also named to the Second Team. | photos courtesy of Joseph Daniel Williams
Brady Browning and Edian Espinal were named to the All-Panhandle Conference First Team on Tuesday. Elgin Bennett and Dillon Haines Haines were also named to the Second Team. | photos courtesy of Joseph Daniel Williams
May 2, 2023

MARIANNA, Fla. – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) announced its Division I Men's Baseball All-Conference Teams last week.

Brady Browning and Edian Espinal were named to the conference's first team with Elgin Bennett and Dillon Haines making the second team.

The All-Panhandle Conference Teams, Conference Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Fireman of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year are selected by the league's head coaches. The coach of the conference's Championship Team is named the Conference Coach of the Year.

For a list of the Men's Baseball All-Conference teams for the Panhandle, Central, and Southern Conferences, click here.

First Team selections

Brady Browning led the 2023 Indians in home runs (11) and RBIs (38) despite missing the final seven games of the season due to injury. The Madison, Florida native batted .305 in 44 games played and held down the hot corner with a .972 fielding percentage. The sophomore transfer from the University of West Florida will play at Western Kentucky next season.

Edian Espinal, from Viera, Florida, led the Indians at the plate with a .363. batting average. His 57 hits in 157 at bats also led the team in both categories. Leading off much of the year, Espinal led the team in runs scored (42) and finished just behind Browning in RBIs with 37. The first year player had a .975 fielding percentage while playing second base much of the season.

Second Team selections

Elgin Bennett, a freshman from Atlanta, Georgia, was second behind Espinal in batting with a .318 average. As the regular centerfielder for the Indians, Bennett only had two errors all season for a .976 fielding percentage.

Dillon Haines, a sophomore transfer from Stetson University, appeared in 15 games for the Indians and finished the season with a 6-0 record and one save. In 45.1 innings pitched, the St. Augustine, Florida native struck out 61 and held opponents to a .206 batting average.