RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On the eve of the opening round of the 2016 Great American Conference Baseball Championships, the league announced its All-GAC teams as well as the individual awards. Arkansas-Monticello’s Corey Wood received the Player of the Year honor, Oklahoma Baptist’s Jinny Parra claimed the Pitcher of the Year accolade, Harding’s Blake Coward earned the Freshman of the Year award and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Zack Saunders took home the Coach of the Year distinction.
Wood became the Weevils’ first conference Player of the Year in the program’s NCAA era (since 1996). He set the conference single-season record with 18 home runs and helped the Weevils finish second in the GAC. His slugging percentage, .782, ranks as the top mark in league history. He ranks in the top 15 in the NCAA in both categories.
Parra served as the ace of the Oklahoma Baptist staff as he finished the regular season ranked in the top four in the GAC in wins (tied for first, 10), ERA (second, 2.41), opponent’s batting average (second, .190), innings pitched (third, 93.1) and strikeouts (fourth, 86).
Coward became the first Harding player to earn one of the GAC’s individual superlative awards. He hit .293 with a .384 on-base percentage in the middle of the Bisons’ lineup. Saunders received the Coach of the Year by a unanimous vote of his fellow GAC head coaches. In winning his second GAC Coach of the Year award, he led the Bulldogs to their first conference title since 1992.
2016 ALL-GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAMS AND YEARLY AWARDS
Saunders’ Bulldogs produced four First-Team All-GAC selections. Senior starter Jon Chidester earned First-Team honors for the second straight year. He posted an 8-4 record with a 2.68 ERA. He struck out 80 in 87.1 innings and tossed four complete games. Two Bulldog outfielders - Korbin Polston and Jacob Spring landed on the First Team. Polston ranked in the top five in hits, runs and RBIs while Spring placed inside the top five in home runs, RBIs, triples, total bases and slugging percentage. SWOSU designated hitter Zach Barton posted the fifth-best on-base percentage at .449.
In addition to Wood, who earned First-Team honors with unanimous support, three Weevils claimed positions on the First Team. Sophomore pitcher Braden Chambers posted a 10-0 record with a 2.88 ERA and a .201 opponent’s batting average. The double play combination of junior second baseman Nick Piraino and senior shortstop Evan Comeau placed on the First Team. Piraino hit .345 while Comeau led the GAC in walks and recorded a .457 on-base percentage.
With Parra, Oklahoma Baptist totaled three First-Team selections. Brandon Cuddy, the Bison senior first baseman joined Wood as the only unanimous picks. He finished the regular season atop the GAC leaderboards in batting average, on-base percentage and doubles and second in slugging percentage, hits and runs scored. Outfielder Ryan Joyce hit .320 while his 13 home runs and .687 slugging percentage ranked third.
Southeastern Oklahoma State closer Brady Colbert and third baseman Logan Terwilliger gave the Savage Storm multiple First-Team picks for first time since 2013. Colbert tied for the league lead with 10 saves and all relievers with 73 strikeouts in 64.0 Innings while Terwilliger ranked in the top 10 in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage.
A pair of SAU seniors – catcher Justin Buchanan and utility player Billy Germaine filled out the position players on the First Team. Buchanan placed inside the top 10 in average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, RBIs and doubles. Germaine finished the regular season one home run behind Wood. He also ranked second in runs scored and walks.
Ouachita’s Connor Eller rounded out the First Team starting rotation. He led the GAC in inning pitched, ranked third in strikeouts and ninth in ERA.
Henderson State led the Second-Team representation with three selections – reliever Nick Vanthillo, third baseman Jordan Taylor and designated hitter Hayden Lessenberry. Five schools – UAM, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Baptist, Southeastern and SWOSU placed a pair of teammates on the Second Team. The Weevils landed a pair of seniors – starting pitcher Zach McKnight and catcher Travis Steinke on the Second Team.
The Rangers’ Second-Team selections included starting pitcher Robert Lawhon and shortstop Xyruse Martinez. The Bison also put two seniors on the Second Team – starting pitcher Nathan Thompson and designated hitter Felipe Gonzalez. The Savage Storm’s Second Teamers featured second baseman Kaleb Thomas and outfielder Dylan Helms. The Bulldogs saw starting pitcher Gunnar Cook and outfield Tanner Dearman earn Second Team honors.
Arkansas Tech first baseman Kaleb Warden, Harding outfielder Zac Stewart, Southern Nazarene outfielder Anthony Wiggins and East Central’s Kaleb Matthews rounded out the Second Team.
Coward headed up the Honorable Mention list. The team included three more Reddies - Hunter Mayall, Tadarious Hawkins and AJ Kruzel, two members of the Savage Storm - Dylan Linke and Greg Husnander, two Wonder Boys - Zach Skelton and Colin O’Neil, two Muleriders - Kenneth Tabor and Trevor Rucker and two Bulldogs - Quintin Dougherty and CJ Faddis. East Central’s Kris Molter, Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Thomas Bess, UAM’s Kevin Fitzpatrick and Oklahoma Baptist’s Hunter Heath rounded out the team.