Clinching the programs 10th KJCCC West Title, the accolades for the Barton Community College baseball team poured in Tuesday afternoon as the Cougars netted the Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Freshman of the Year and five other post-season honors released by the KJCCC and Region VI.
Not dropping a conference series all season long, Head Coach Brent Biggs was tabbed as the KJCCC West Coach of the Year for the second time in five years guiding the Cougars to a 41-18 overall record and 24-8 conference mark.
Of the seven players recognized for their efforts on the season, Alex Rodgers and Henry Hayman headlined the selections earning the Most Valuable Player and Freshman of the Year accolades. Joining Rodgers on the first team KJCCC and Region VI lists were Ricardo Sanchez and Zach Thornton with Carson Cornelius picking up first-team KJCCC, Hayman receiving a second team KJCCC selection and Owen Reynolds claiming an honorable mention distinction. Rodgers, Sanchez and Connor Allen wrapped up the accolades each honored for their defensive play netting Region VI Gold Gloves at their respective positions.
ALEX RODGERS - KJCCC West Most Valuable Player | First Team All-KJCCC West | First Team All-Region VI | Region VI Gold Glove: Outfield
In the leadoff spot for all 59 games, Rodgers won conference player of the week twice this season including a NJCAA national player of the week honor. Rodgers sat atop the team's top-two spots in just about every offensive statistical category. Holding a conference and region best batting average of .443 and .558 on-base percentage for the year, Rodgers found his way producing a team leading 94 hits, 113 runs and 61 stolen bases in 68 attempts. Following a second team KJCCC selection last season, the Stephen F. Austin signee set the programs single season runs scored and stolen bases record while jumping into the top-10 single season categories fabricating the seventh best average, eighth most at-bats, third most hits, second most doubles and drawing the second most hit-by-pitches.
Earning his first Region VI Gold Glove award the sophomore was phenomenal patrolling center field for the Cougars posting a .984 fielding percentage gathering 123 putouts, committing just two errors and assisting on four plays in the 129 total chances.
RICARDO SANCHEZ - First Team All-KJCCC West | First Team All-Region VI | Region VI Gold Glove: Second Base
Like Rodgers in center, Sanchez was also a mainstay in the Barton lineup for all 59 games in anchoring the middle infield at second base. Securing a pair of conference player of the week awards and national player of the week distinction, Sanchez battled Rodgers throughout the year in almost every offensive category. The freshman not only set the program's single season records with 35 doubles and 90 RBIs but also led the conference and region. Ranked second on the team in batting average at .442, Sanchez drew a team high 49 walks and legged out five triples while finishing second on the club generating 91 hits, nine big fly's as well as swiping 27 bases in 31 tries.
Helping roll up 29 double plays on the season, Sanchez collected Barton's second gold glove award committing just four errors in 230 total attempts for a .983 fielding percentage.
ZACH THORNTON - First Team All-KJCCC West | First Team All-Region VI
An honorable mention selection a season ago, Thornton steered the Barton pitching staff to the third lowest ERA in the league. Making 15 starts, the sophomore posted the program's highest unblemished single season record with a 9-0 mark. Finishing the year third in the Region VI with a 2.63 ERA, Thornton allowed just 23 earned runs while logging the second most 78.2 innings in the region and fourth most in the programs single season while striking out 91 batters finishing with the fifth most punch outs in the programs single season record book.
CARSON CORNELIUS - First Team All-KJCCC West
Working as the teams closer, Cornelius appeared in 21 games as a relief pitcher locking down five of the teams nine saves ranking third in the KJCCC West. The Nickerson, Kansas, native finished with a 3.00 ERA allowing just eighth earned runs in 24 innings pitched while striking out 16.
HENRY HAYMAN - KJCCC West Freshman of the Year | Second Team All-KJCCC West
Batting third in the lineup behind Rodgers and Sanchez, Hayman was also amongst the team leaders in most offensive categories finishing second with four triples, nine home runs and 63 runs batted in over 44 games played. Batting .384 in his freshman campaign, Hayman manufactured the third most hits on the club with 63, lacing 19 doubles and producing 19 multi-hit games highlighted by a nine game hitting streak to conclude the season.
OWEN REYNOLDS - KJCCC West Honorable Mention
Earning a pair of conference pitcher of the week awards, Reynolds landed on the honorable mention team as a starting pitcher. Logging a team second most 58.1 innings, the freshman concluded his first year in the Barton blue with a 6-1 record over 13 games started holding a 4.63 ERA and managed a 65 to 30 strikeout to walk ratio.
CONNOR ALLEN - Region VI Gold Glove: Catcher
Appearing in 55 of the 59 games, Allen was nails behind the dish claiming the third defensive award following his perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Collecting 366 putouts and 32 assists, the sophomore catcher gunned down 12 would be base stealers. Concluding his two-year career catching in 99 games, the Wichita, Kansas product, committed just one error while racking up 677 putouts, 57 assists and throwing out 25 base runners on the base paths.
COMPLETE POSTSEASON RESULTS
2022 All-Jayhawk West Team
2022 All-Region VI Team
2022 Region VI Gold Gloves