ROME, Ga.  For the first time in program history, members of the Methodist baseball team have garnered USA South Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Rookie Pitcher of the Year honors in the same season.
 
The league announced its all–conference accolades on Wednesday afternoon, with five Monarchs earning a spot on the First Team — the most first-teamers the program has seen since 1986. For commanding a talented roster and guiding Methodist to the No. 1 seed in the upcoming USA South Tournament, head coach Tom Austin was voted Coach of the Year by his counterparts around the conference.
 
Tristen Melvin, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, becomes the fourth–ever Monarch to be named Player of the Year and first since Dan Glies in 2002. Melvin, who started 38 games in the regular season, has been the most improved player on the roster from last season. He leads the league in RBIs (48) while sitting second in the conference in batting average (.432), slugging percentage (.671), and OPS (1.156). He also leads the team with 63 hits, four triples and six home runs. His 42 runs and nine doubles rank third on the team, while his 17 walks are fourth–best. He has also swiped nine bases this season.
 
Kyle Molivas, a senior from Stedman, North Carolina, is the fourth–ever Methodist hurler to be named Pitcher of the Year and first since Josh Howard in 2015. Making 13 starts this season, Molivas put together a solid campaign with career highs in innings pitched (64.2), victories (7) and strikeouts (51), while posting an ERA of 3.62. He was even better in league games, as he led the USA South with a 2.03 ERA and five wins. He also had 35 strikeouts throughout league play (second–most during that span) and held USA South opponents to a .288 batting average (sixth best among league pitchers).
 
Ian Swanson, from Tallahassee, Florida, becomes just the third Monarch to be named Rookie Pitcher of the Year and first since Michael Judge in 2011. Swanson had a superb freshman season as he led the Methodist pitching staff in ERA (2.12), innings pitched (68.0), strikeouts (68) and opponent batting average (.211). He posted the second-most victories for the Monarchs (five) across 12 appearances, making 11 starts. Against league foes, he registered three wins, had a 3.43 ERA, and led the USA South in strikeouts (42) and opponent batting average (.240).
 
Putting together his best season as a Monarch, Caleb Rogers earns the first postseason honor of his collegiate career, making the First Team at the shortstop position. The senior from Seminole, Florida, finished the regular season ranked second on the team in batting average (.366) and RBIs (37), while his 18 walks and career–high 53 hits rank third. He also registered 30 runs, seven doubles, a triple, a home run and 12 stolen bases, and was one of just two Monarchs to start all 40 regular–season games.
 
The other player to start every game for Methodist this season was Jackson Deal. Garnering first–team distinction in the outfield, Deal also collects the first postseason honor of his collegiate career. The senior from China Grove, North Carolina, spent time playing first base early in the season, but primarily occupied right field for the Monarchs and has been the everyday leadoff man since the end of February. With a career–best batting average of .351, he finished the regular season ranked second on the team in hits (59) and runs scored (43). He also totaled 14 stolen bases — which was third–best on the team — and recorded a career–high eight doubles. Deal was also Methodist's representative on the All–Sportsmanship team.

The Methodist baseball team is the 2025 USA South regular season champion and the No. 1 seed in the 2025 USA South Baseball Tournament. The Monarchs will host a double-elimination bracket that also features North Carolina Wesleyan University and Southern Virginia University. Methodist's first game is at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, as the team awaits the loser of the noon game on Thursday between the Battling Bishops and the Knights.