Clinching their second consecutive KJCCC West Title, the 6th ranked Barton Community College Baseball team was recognized Tuesday afternoon with the Cougars netting the Jayhawk West Coach of the Year award with nine members joining the KJCCC West team and two landing on the All-Region VI team announced Tuesday afternoon.
Finishing with the program's best single season record of 51-10 and top mark in the Jayhawk West at 26-6, Head Coach Brent Biggs was tabbed the KJCCC West Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and third time in his nine-year career. Not dropping a series for the second straight year, Biggs, and his Cougars surpassed the 40-win mark for the fourth time in his tenure while concluding the regular season ranked 6th nationally.
Middle infielder Ricardo Sanchez and outfielder Riley Silva headlined the nine individuals with First Team All-KJCCC West and All-Region VI Second Team honors. Balanced up and down the lineup all season long four of the selections came on the second-team list outfielder Robby Bolin, utility Quinton Robertson and starting pitchers David Stuart and Tegan Cain. First baseman Dryden Howse and reliever Hunter Jones concluded the selections with All-Jayhawk West honorable mentions nods.
Ricardo Sanchez – First Team All-KJCCC West | Second Team All-Region VI (Second Baseman)
A first team selection his initial season, Ricardo Sanchez sustained his solid play in the Cougar lineup in 2023 ranking amongst the top-5 in many of Barton's offensive categories once again.
Switching between the second and third spot in the lineup throughout the season, Sanchez held an average of .323 over 59 games and ranked tops on the team in RBIs with 71 finishing with the fifth most in single season history.
The sophomore middle infielder accumulated a .460 on-base percentage with a .542 slugging percentage, collecting 65 hits with 17 doubles, three triples and seven home runs. Sanchez scored 63 times, stole 22 bags and finished with the second most walks on the club drawing 42.
Concluding his two-year Barton career, Sanchez made an impact on the career charts with the most RBIs (161) and doubles (52) edging out former teammates Alex Rodgers (51).
Riley Silva – First Team All-KJCCC West | Second Team All-Region VI (Outfielder)
Patrolling center field in 55 of Barton's 61 games, Riley Silva became a steady bat for the Cougars in 2023.
Leading the club with six triples, Silva secured the third highest batting average of .368 with 11 doubles and 39 driven home.
Supporting a fourth best on-base percentage of .475, the University of Nebraska commit was a major threat on the base paths crossing the plate 71 times for the 10th most single season runs scored while stealing a team leading 44 bases finishing with the program's second most single season output.
Silva was one of three Cougars to garner KJCCC West Player of the Week honors producing a six game .571 batting average and driving in 10 runs in week 10 of the season.
Robby Bolin – Second Team All-KJCCC West (Outfielder)
Stationed as the primary left fielder for the Cougars, Robby Bolin concluded his freshman campaign with the fifth highest .348 batting average while producing 14 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 41 drove across.
Like many of his teammates throughout the year, Bolin left his name on the Barton record book wearing the badge of honor 30 times to set the single season program record. The Topeka, Kansas native also led the squad in runs scored with 75 to finish in a 7th place tie for most times crossing home plate in a single season.
Ayden Blachowicz – Second Team All-KJCCC West (Outfielder)
Joining the Cougars for his sophomore season, right fielder Ayden Blachowicz performed in a substantial way pacing the team in hits and recording the second highest batting average and among the team leaders in stolen base.
The sophomore from Olathe, Kansas, finished with 79 hits for a .378 average generating the second most doubles with 17, four triples, one home run, 62 runs scored and 56 RBIs. Blachowicz also finished with the second most steals converting on all 29 attempts tying for the 8th most in program single season history.
Blachowicz ended the season on a tear recording a hit in 17 of his final 19 games while recording a pair of 11 game hitting steaks this year with 23 multi-hit games, including a 4-hit game on May 3rd.
Quinton Robertson – Second Team All-KJCCC West (Designator Hitter)
Used primarily as the designator hitter in the Cougar lineup, Quinton Robertson had a very impactful season posting the sixth best .338 batting average over 51 games.
The redshirt-freshman furnished the team's second highest slugging percentage of .596 turning 26 of his 51 hits into extra bases. Robertson legged out a team high 18 doubles, three triples and distributed five home runs with the Blue Springs, Missouri native bringing home 49 runs while crossing the plate 49 different times.
David Stuart – Second Team All-KJCCC West (Starting Pitcher)
Handling the No.1 duties on the mound all year long, sophomore starting pitcher David Stuart posted an 8-3 record with a team best 3.28 ERA per-10 appearances
Working a team high 79.2-innings, the third most in single season program history, Stuart allowed 62 hits, 34 runs and 27 walks with 91 strikeouts finishing tied for sixth most in program single season history.
The Lawrence, Kansas native concluded his sophomore campaign tied for the ninth most victories in a single season defeating Kansas City Kansas Community College in his final start with the Cougars in the opening round of the Region VI/Plains District Tournament.
Stuart tossed four complete games over his 15 games started this season.
Tegan Cain – Second Team All-KJCCC West (Starting Pitcher)
Working as the No. 3 starter in the weekend rotation, Tegan Cain constructed an 8-3 sophomore campaign tying for the 9th most wins in a single season while supporting the teams third best earned run average of 3.82 over 15 starts.
Tossing two complete games over 73.0-innings, the Cougar right-hander struck out 93 batters for the fifth most in a single season edging out Stuart's 91 punchouts. The Ellis, Kansas native yielded 31 walks, 56 hits and 31 earned runs holding the opposition to a .207 batting average against.
The University of Kansas commit, struck out five or more hitters in 12 of his 15 starts including a career high nine on two separate occasions.
Dryden Howse – Honorable Mention All-KJCCC West (First Baseman)
A mainstay at first base over his two years supporting a Barton uniform, Dryden Howse swung the clubs fourth best .349 batting average over his 55 games played.
The sophomore from Okotoks, Alberta, Canada led the Cougars in home runs distributing eight big fly's while finishing with the highest on-base percentage of .513 and leading the squad in free bases drawing 43 walks for the 10th most in single season history.
Howse had 17 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBI games this season. He had three games of three hits and six games with three or more RBIs.
Collecting 58 hits on the season, Howse added 15 doubles and three triples with his eight home runs finishing tied for the team lead with 26 extra base hits.
Hunter Jones – Honorable Mention All-KJCCC West (Relief Pitcher)
Taking over the closer role for his sophomore season, Hunter Jones was clutch in key moments for the Cougars.
Appearing in 16 games, Jones closed the door four times over 26.1-innings. The Topeka, Kansas reliever permitted 25 hits, 10 earned runs, walked 11 and struck out 30 to support a bullpen best 3.42 ERA per-10 appearances. Jones would limit opponents to a .250 batting average against.