SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University junior center fielder Matt Howard was named Wednesday as a second-team Division II All-Atlantic Region performer by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Two of Howard's Rock teammates, junior starting pitcher George Hebert (HAY-bear) and senior second baseman Billy Messer, were also honored by the NCBWA as they each attained honorable mention all-region status.

Messer was an NCBWA honorable mention all-region selection last spring as well, while this year's all-region honors were the first earned by Howard and Hebert.

The NCBWA honors came on the heels of Howard and Messer being named as first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division performers and Hebert earning second-team all-conference status in voting by the division's head coaches.

Howard, a native of Philadelphia and graduate of LaSalle College High School, finished the season as The Rock's second leading hitter with a .395 average. He led the team in runs scored (60), triples (8) and stolen bases (17 of 20) and also had nine doubles, four home runs and 27 RBIs to his credit. He joined The Rock program after playing one season each at Marist College and Frederick Junior College.

Messer, the youngest son of Rock head coach Jeff Messer, is a Slippery Rock High School graduate. He finished the 2010 season as SRU's third leading hitter with a .373 average and was second on the team in doubles (17). A fourth-year member of The Rock program, he also had two triples, two home runs and 34 RBIs in his final collegiate campaign.

Messer earned two first-team and one second-team All-PSAC-West honor during his Rock career as well as being named last spring as a second-team all-region performer by the American Baseball Coaches Association and as an honorable mention NCBWA all-region performer.

Hebert, a native of Midlothian, Va., and graduate of Clover Hill High School, led The Rock in wins this spring with a 7-1 record and was third on the team in earned run average at 4.03. He struck out 46 and walked 29 in 67 innings. Opposing hitters had a .231 batting average against The Rock right-hander.

The three all-region performers helped lead The Rock to a 27-23 overall record, a tie for third place in thej PSAC Championships and a fourth-place finish in the PSAC-West standings.

The complete list of this year's NCBWA Division II All-Atlantic Region selections included:

Player of the Year: Greyson Schram, Concord
Pitcher of the Year: Noah Mull, Wheeling Jesuit
Coach of the Year: Mike Conte, California

FIRST TEAM
First Baseman: Nate Minnich, Shepherd
Second Baseman: Greyson Schram, Concord
Third Baseman: Matt Coker. West Virginia Wesleyan
Shortstop: Paul Bingham, Indiana
Catcher: *Pat Trettel, Seton Hill
Outfielder: Sam DiMatteo, California
Outfielder: Cory Flickinger, West Virginia Wesleyan
Outfielder: Troy Handza, California
Utility Player/Designated Hitter: *Shayne Houck, Kutztown
Starting Pitcher: Fred Breidenbach, West Chester
Starting Pitcher: *Noah Mull, Wheeling Jesuit
Starting Pitcher: Randy Sturgill, California
Relief Pitcher: Evan Kendall, West Virginia State
* denotes unanimous selection

SECOND TEAM
First Baseman: Justin Bagbey, Chowan
Second Baseman: Joe Wendle, West Chester
Third Baseman: Brian Collins, Shepherd
Shortstop: Donovan Huffer, Concord
Catcher: Bob Stumpo, West Chester
Outfielder: Bo Darby, West Virginia State
Outfielder: Keith Morrisroe, Concord
Outfielder (tie): Andrew Armstrong, Charleston
Outfielder (tie): Matt Howard, Slippery Rock
Outfielder (tie): Dominic San Felippo, Wheeling Jesuit
Utility Player/Designated Hitter: Matt McCamley, Lock Haven
Starting Pitcher: Nathan Reed, Kutztown
Starting Pitcher: Christian Saveri, East Stroudsburg
Starting Pitcher: Ronnie Whitt, Alderson-Broaddus
Relief Pitcher: Bernard Johnson, Mansfield

HONORABLE MENTION
First Baseman: Jared Frey, Kutztown; Adam Links, California; Kyle Orensky, West Chester; Lee Pope, Washington Adventist; Kyle Stryker, Indiana. Second Baseman: Nick Barbera, Pitt-Johnstown; Billy Messer, Slippery Rock; Jamie Smith, Indiana. Third Baseman: James Quigley, Kutztown; Ethan Santora, Mercyhurst; Deshawn Showell, Virginia State. Shortstop: Matt Magallon, Washington Adventist; Nick Spisak, West Chester. Catcher: Miles Gallagher, Millersville; Andrew Holt, Virginia State; T.J. Nichols, Indiana; Gary Valadez, Alderson-Broaddus. Outfielder: Matt Baer, West Chester; Brandon Crump, Virginia State; Michael Dugan, Kutztown; Charlie Kelly, West Chester; Ryan Lewicki, West Virginia Wesleyan; Kevin McGrath, West Chester; Kevin Miller, Mansfield; Nate Mitchell, Chowan. Utility Player/Designated Hitter: Adam Gray, Mercyhurst; Ryne Holstine, West Virginia State; Justin Shockley, Chowan; Brandon Wolfe, West Chester. Starting Pitcher: Jordan Backes, Mercyhurst; George Hebert, Slippery Rock; Jordan Lehman, West Chester; Brian Warheit, Seton Hill. Relief Pitcher: Stephen Cooke, Indiana; Kyle Petty, California.