Catawba Preseason No. 5 Nationally, Six Players Named Preseason All-Americans
PEMBROKE, N.C. - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its 2020 Preseason Top-25 and All-American teams on Thursday (Jan. 30). The Catawba Indians were a preseason No. 5 pick nationally and six players earned All-American honors.
Catawba finished the 2019 season with a record of 47-14 winning the SAC Baseball Tournament Championship, the NCAA Southeast Regional and advancing to the NCAA National Championship. The Catawba Indians are led by third team All-American third baseman Jackson Rapper and honorable mention first baseball Hunter Shepherd.
Tusculum's Daulton Martin was the lone first team selection, while Newberry's Quinton Driggers was a second team pick as a reliever and Wingate's Jed Bryant and Carson-Newman's Tyler Thompson were both named to the third team in the outfield.
| 2020 NCBWA DIVISION II TOP 25 (PRESEASON) | ||||
| Rank | Team (1st Place Votes) | 2019 Record | Pts | Prev |
| 1 | Tampa (18) | 45-14 | 473 | 1 |
| 2 | Colorado Mesa | 53-12 | 444 | 2 |
| 3 | UC San Diego | 41-16 | 430 | 4 |
| 4 | Central Missouri (1) | 46-16 | 426 | 3 |
| 5 | Catawba | 47-14 | 394 | 6 |
| 6 | Mercyhurst | 36-16 | 361 | 9 |
| 7 | Ashland | 48-15 | 358 | 5 |
| 8 | North Greenville | 45-11 | 321 | 7 |
| 9 | Delta State | 42-14 | 311 | 12 |
| 10 | New York Tech | 37-16 | 307 | 13 |
| 11 | Angelo State | 37-16 | 304 | 8 |
| 12 | Azusa Pacific | 40-15 | 241 | 10 |
| 13 | Augustana | 43-16 | 228 | 11 |
| 14 | Southern New Hampshire | 40-15 | 215 | 19 |
| 15 | West Texas A&M | 41-12 | 200 | RV |
| 16 | Nova Southeastern | 34-17 | 180 | RV |
| 17 | Bellarmine | 34-21 | 176 | NR |
| 18 | Millersville | 38-16 | 167 | 17 |
| 19 | West Florida | 37-18 | 137 | 21 |
| 20 | North Georgia | 33-20 | 106 | NR |
| 21 | Arkansas Monticello | 34-16 | 82 | NR |
| 22 | Cal State Monterey Bay | 37-21 | 77 | NR |
| 23 | Colorado School of Mines | 40-15 | 74 | 24 |
| 24 | Wilmington (Del.) | 40-18 | 36 | RV |
| 25 | Minnesota State | 39-15 | 25 | RV |
| Receiving Votes: Mount Olive (31-19) 22 points; Southern Indiana (30-21) 21 points; Point Loma (32-11) 18 points; Florida Southern (23-27) 16 points; Gannon (33-17) 11 points; Newberry (41-16) 7 points; Adelphi (34-9-1) 3 points; Charleston, W.Va. (41-19) 2 points; Central Oklahoma (38-20) 1 point; Montana State-Billings (33-20) 1 point. | ||||
| Dropped Out: Illinois Springfield (14th); Newberry (15th); Adelphia (16th); St. Cloud State (18th); Eckerd (20th); Point Loma (22nd); Lubbock Christian (23rd); Wayne State, Mich. (25th). | ||||
2020 NCBWA Preseason All-Americans
|
First Team |
||||||||||||||||
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
Avg. |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
SLG |
OBP |
BB |
SB |
|
C |
John Michael Faile |
North Greenville |
So. |
Boiling Springs, S.C. |
.389 |
185 |
45 |
72 |
13 |
0 |
16 |
68 |
.719 |
.471 |
31 |
3 |
|
1B |
Andrew Czech |
Walsh |
Sr |
Twinsburg, Ohio |
.417 |
175 |
58 |
73 |
18 |
1 |
17 |
63 |
.823 |
.538 |
44 |
1 |
|
2B |
Daulton Martin |
Tusculum |
Jr. |
Lancaster, Pa. |
.362 |
177 |
61 |
64 |
22 |
1 |
8 |
47 |
.633 |
.518 |
52 |
17 |
|
3B |
Osvaldo Tovalin |
Azusa Pacific |
Jr. |
Chula Vista, Calif. |
.396 |
230 |
64 |
91 |
17 |
1 |
19 |
62 |
.726 |
.456 |
18 |
2 |
|
SS |
Matt McDermott |
Colorado Colorado Springs |
Sr. |
Aurora, Colo. |
.384 |
177 |
48 |
68 |
18 |
2 |
9 |
42 |
.661 |
.420 |
11 |
11 |
|
OF |
Josh Elvir |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
Kemah, Texas |
.458 |
179 |
75 |
82 |
17 |
9 |
20 |
81 |
.989 |
.584 |
50 |
11 |
|
OF |
Erik Webb |
Central Missouri |
Sr. |
St. Peter's, Mo. |
.410 |
244 |
66 |
100 |
26 |
5 |
21 |
76 |
.816 |
.453 |
16 |
15 |
|
OF |
Ethan Baucom |
UNC Pembroke |
R-Sr. |
Rockingham, N.C. |
.306 |
196 |
57 |
60 |
9 |
0 |
20 |
71 |
.658 |
.409 |
20 |
9 |
|
DH |
Jake Engel |
Dixie State |
Sr. |
Tucson, Ariz. |
.385 |
187 |
56 |
72 |
8 |
3 |
14 |
52 |
.684 |
.485 |
31 |
6 |
|
UTL |
Eddie Nevins |
Wilmington (Del.) |
Sr. |
Fairfax, Va. |
.440 |
175 |
65 |
77 |
15 |
5 |
8 |
62 |
.720 |
.548 |
43 |
16 |
|
SP |
Hunter Riggins |
Delta State |
Sr. |
Hernando, Miss. |
2.03 |
11-3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
102.0 |
90 |
40 |
23 |
31 |
81 |
.231 |
|
SP |
Zach Parish |
Missouri Southern |
Sr. |
Tahlequah, Okla. |
2.85 |
9-2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
101.0 |
72 |
37 |
32 |
34 |
136 |
.199 |
|
SP |
Zach Noll |
Point Loma |
Sr. |
Temecula, Calif. |
2.92 |
10-2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
83.1 |
72 |
28 |
27 |
29 |
102 |
.238 |
|
RP |
Jeffrey Praml |
Southern New Hampshire |
Jr. |
Bridgewater, N.J. |
0.98 |
5-1 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
36.2 |
17 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
44 |
.148 |
|
Second Team |
||||||||||||||||
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
Avg. |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
SLG |
OBP |
BB |
SB |
|
C |
Chris Gambert |
Bellarmine |
Sr |
Louisville, Ky. |
.391 |
184 |
40 |
72 |
15 |
1 |
16 |
51 |
.745 |
.465 |
25 |
1 |
|
1B |
Daniel Cipriano |
Montana State Billings |
Jr. |
Agoura Hills, Calif. |
.405 |
168 |
59 |
68 |
15 |
1 |
18 |
52 |
.827 |
.528 |
17 |
0 |
|
2B |
Jake Barlow |
Delta State |
Jr. |
Jonesville, La. |
.327 |
199 |
46 |
65 |
13 |
5 |
11 |
53 |
.608 |
.395 |
25 |
2 |
|
3B |
Jacob Buchberger |
Davenport |
Sr |
Montague, Mich. |
.429 |
182 |
54 |
78 |
12 |
3 |
8 |
40 |
.659 |
.498 |
22 |
22 |
|
SS |
Daniel Rodriguez |
Spring Hill |
Sr. |
Coral Gables, Fla. |
.365 |
170 |
46 |
62 |
8 |
1 |
11 |
61 |
.618 |
.448 |
21 |
11 |
|
OF |
Matt Higgins |
Bellarmine |
Jr |
Louisville, Ky. |
.419 |
215 |
63 |
90 |
18 |
2 |
13 |
63 |
.702 |
.498 |
34 |
6 |
|
OF |
E.J. Cumbo |
New York Tech |
So. |
East Meadow, N.Y. |
.437 |
167 |
43 |
73 |
13 |
2 |
7 |
44 |
.665 |
.510 |
20 |
23 |
|
OF |
Jared Carr |
Shepherd |
Jr. |
Martinsburg, Pa. |
.428 |
201 |
64 |
86 |
16 |
5 |
6 |
37 |
.647 |
.477 |
13 |
13 |
|
DH |
Carson Mittenmaier |
Ashland |
Sr |
Wharton, Ohio |
.330 |
209 |
44 |
69 |
13 |
1 |
11 |
48 |
.560 |
.412 |
26 |
4 |
|
UTL |
Logan Soole |
MSU Denver |
Sr. |
Louisville, Colo. |
.344 |
151 |
50 |
52 |
9 |
3 |
15 |
45 |
.742 |
.438 |
19 |
17 |
|
SP |
Tucker Smith |
Georgia Southwestern |
R-Sr. |
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. |
2.11 |
9-3 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
115.0 |
95 |
34 |
27 |
16 |
89 |
.220 |
|
SP |
Dylan Hall |
Central Oklahoma |
Sr. |
Stafford, Va. |
3.22 |
8-4 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
106.1 |
84 |
41 |
38 |
26 |
123 |
.219 |
|
SP |
Max Steffens |
Augustana |
Sr. |
DeWitt, Iowa |
2.77 |
9-1 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
97.1 |
87 |
34 |
30 |
10 |
68 |
.235 |
|
RP |
Quinton Driggers |
Newberry |
Sr. |
Pelion, S.C. |
1.40 |
9-0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
77.0 |
37 |
18 |
12 |
35 |
94 |
.145 |
|
UTL |
Logan Soole |
MSU Denver |
Sr. |
Louisville, Colo. |
2.27 |
5-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
43.2 |
38 |
18 |
11 |
11 |
47 |
.226 |
|
Third Team |
||||||||||||||||
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
Avg. |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
SLG |
OBP |
BB |
SB |
|
C |
Ramon Enriguez |
Oklahoma Baptist |
Sr. |
San Bruno, Calif. |
.341 |
208 |
63 |
71 |
17 |
2 |
14 |
71 |
.644 |
.449 |
35 |
8 |
|
1B |
Jordan Stubbings |
Colorado Mesa |
Jr. |
Parker, Colo. |
.345 |
235 |
55 |
81 |
20 |
1 |
13 |
55 |
.604 |
.423 |
25 |
0 |
|
2B |
Matt Clarke |
Colorado Colorado Springs |
Sr. |
Sacramento, Calif. |
.378 |
201 |
45 |
76 |
20 |
2 |
6 |
37 |
.587 |
.413 |
8 |
6 |
|
3B |
Jackson Raper |
Catawba |
Sr. |
Concord, N.C. |
.362 |
229 |
47 |
83 |
20 |
4 |
7 |
54 |
.576 |
.425 |
22 |
7 |
|
SS |
John Mooradian |
Mercy |
Sr. |
Marlboro, N.Y. |
.397 |
189 |
38 |
75 |
9 |
7 |
0 |
50 |
.519 |
.448 |
16 |
22 |
|
OF |
Cole Friese |
Millersville |
Sr. |
Shippensburg, Pa. |
.368 |
204 |
66 |
75 |
14 |
4 |
12 |
44 |
.652 |
.433 |
17 |
27 |
|
OF |
Jed Bryant |
Wingate |
Jr. |
Lexington, N.C. |
.312 |
199 |
42 |
62 |
8 |
2 |
19 |
54 |
.658 |
.371 |
21 |
2 |
|
OF |
Tyler Thompson |
Carson-Newman |
Jr. |
Gallatin, Tenn. |
.438 |
160 |
45 |
70 |
16 |
4 |
9 |
43 |
.756 |
.528 |
20 |
15 |
|
DH |
J.T. Stone |
Mount Olive |
Jr. |
Fayetteville, N.C. |
.347 |
173 |
46 |
60 |
11 |
2 |
9 |
49 |
.590 |
.471 |
34 |
1 |
|
UTL |
Joe Mason |
Mount Olive |
Sr. |
Morehead City, N.C. |
.388 |
170 |
54 |
66 |
15 |
3 |
12 |
49 |
.724 |
.481 |
25 |
10 |
|
SP |
Andy Marzhauser |
Florida Tech |
Sr. |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
1.96 |
8-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
87.1 |
85 |
26 |
19 |
15 |
94 |
.253 |
|
SP |
Deven Judy |
Gannon |
Jr. |
Belle Vernon, Pa. |
2.49 |
8-0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
72.1 |
58 |
30 |
20 |
33 |
96 |
.217 |
|
!SP |
Brandon Weed |
UC San Diego |
Sr. |
Lemon Grove, Calif. |
3.30 |
10-3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
87.1 |
84 |
37 |
32 |
14 |
60 |
.249 |
|
!SP |
Trent Baker |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Georgetown, Texas |
2.65 |
10-1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
85.0 |
76 |
28 |
25 |
21 |
70 |
.235 |
|
RP |
Jonathan Sprinkle |
Central Missouri |
Jr. |
Overland Park, Kan. |
2.23 |
4-2 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
40.1 |
23 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
67 |
.162 |
*Honorable Mention
Catcher: Nick Seginowich, Angelo State; First Base: Hunter Shepherd, Catawba. Second Base: Nolan Bryant, Davenport; Ryon Knowles, Cal Poly Pomona; J.T. Mix, Augustana. Third Base: Tristan Thomas, Arkansas Tech. Shortstop: Anthony Stehlin, Concord; Shay Whitcomb, UC San Diego. Outfield: Thomas Delgadillo, Academy of Art; Clayton Engel, Drury; Keone Givens, West Texas A&M; Travis Harvey, Davenport; Griffin Herrera, Azusa Pacific; Colby Johnson, Charleston, W.Va.; Riley Johnson, Augustana. Designated Hitter: Michael Avendano, Shorter. Utility: Connor McCord, Western Oregon; Duncan Pastore, Nova Southeastern. Starting Pitcher: Derek Duffy, Franklin Pierce; Nick Estrella, Azusa Pacific; Chance Hitchcock, Ashland; D.J. Masuck, New York Tech; Walter Pennington, Colorado School of Mines; Devin Smith, Kentucky Wesleyan.
Legend: ! Tie; * Appear on more than two ballots