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.
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.
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.
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.
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