FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas - Fort Smith pitcher Aaron Davidson and center fielder Joey Winiecki have earned first team All-Region II honors for their performances during the regular season.
Davidson, a 5-foot-11 right-hander from Bryant, Ark., posted a 9-3 win-loss record, making 12 starts and 13 appearances. The sophomore, who pitched five complete games, compiled a 1.59 ERA with a team-best 105 strikeouts and only 24 walks over 66 innings.
“He gave us a big lift coming in as a transfer guy, taking over a pretty difficult position in our league in being our No. 1 starter and facing everybody’s best guy,” UA Fort Smith pitching coach Shohn Doty said.
“It’s a credit to him. He put up good numbers. He’s got a really good feel for pitching.”
Davidson, who was a catcher and closer at NCAA Division II Harding University last spring, finished the regular-season ranked No. 2 in the nation in strikeouts and strikeouts per inning (1.6). He was ranked 27th in the nation in overall pitching.
“He’s got an average fast ball but can locate it,” Doty said. “He’s got an above-average breaking pitch and is able to throw that at any time in the count. That’s been the difference between him and a lot of other guys who have rolled through here.”
Winiecki, a 6-foot freshman from Bryant, Ark., played in all but five of the Lions’ 56 regular-season games. The quick-footed outfielder batted a team-best .461 with five home runs, seven doubles and two triples.
Winiecki, who was second on the team with 54 RBIs, led the nation with 95 hits during the regular season and was 12th in the nation in batting average. He led the team with 30 stolen bases in 36 attempts and was ranked 11th in the nation.
“If he goes, we kind of go,” UA Fort Smith coach Dale Harpenau said. “With him and Jordan (Sallis) at the top of the lineup, they both have been really good for us this year. When they get on base, we have a tendency to score runs. Because they run so well, they’re able to go first to third, steal some bags and do some different things for us that helps us to be successful offensively.”
Along with Davidson and Winiecki, seven Lions received honorable mention All-Region honors: sophomore pitcher Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla.; freshman pitcher Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sophomore right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark.; freshman third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark.; freshman second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla.; sophomore shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark.; and sophomore first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla.
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