Catawba’s Craig Brooks Sweeps ABCA National Player and Pitcher of the Year Honors
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference took home all three National Player of the Year honors as Catawba's Craig Brooks was tabbed the American Baseball Coaches Association National Player and Pitcher of the Year, the organization announced recently. Teammate Will Albertson also picked up ABCA Position Player of the Year.
Brooks, a pitcher, who also plays third base, becomes the first Catawba player to earn the ABCA National Player of the Year honor. Brooks currently sports a 9-1 record with 150 strikeouts and 33 walks in 96 innings pitched this season. He has limited opponents to a .157 batting average and led the Indians to an appearance in the NCAA Div. II National Finals.
Albertson was named the Position Player of the Year by all three major organizations (ABCA, NCBWA & Daktronics). The junior catcher is batting .470 with school and conference records of 108 hits, 26 home runs and 90 RBI.
The ABCA also announced its All-American squads with the SAC earning five honors. Below is a look at the South Atlantic Conference ABCA award winners.
Position Player of the Year: Will Alberston, Catawba
Pitcher of the Year: Craig Brooks Catawba
ABCA First Team All-America
Will Albertson, Catawba
Craig Brooks, Catawba
ABCA Second Team All-America
Albert Baur, Newberry
Shane Billings, Wingate
Thomas Spitz, Wingate