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Copeland, Rivera Earn All-KCAC Honors

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Kan. – The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference has announced the 2022-23 KCAC Baseball all-conference teams and award winners. Student-athletes were selected for this honor by a vote of the KCAC head baseball coaches.

Kansas Wesleyan won the regular-season conference championship with a 27-6 mark in conference play, which was part of a 39-11 overall record.

The Coyotes’ Jarret Gable was named the KCAC Baseball Player of the Year. Ottawa Braves’ pitcher Tyler Bryant won the KCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Year award. Bryant’s teammate Caden Gray won Freshman of the Year.

Bill Neale, head coach of Kansas Wesleyan, was named the conference’s Coach of the Year by his peers.

Representing the Swedes in KCAC postseason awards are Caleb Copeland and Joseph Rivera.

Copeland, a junior from Salina, Kansas, was announced as a Gold Glove winner. Caleb ranked 6th in stolen base during conference play with 15. As a fielder, Copeland tallied 117 putouts with 4 assists leading to a fielding percentage of .984.

Rivera, a junior from Dorado, Puerto Rico, earned Honorable Mention honors. Rivera had a solid season batting .365 with 7 homeruns, 42 RBI, and turned 15 double-plays including a triple play against Huston-Tillotson.

Below is the complete list of award winners.

FIRST TEAM

NAME INSTITUTION CLASS POSITION HOMETOWN
Antonio Fernandez U McPherson College Sr. C Tucson, Ariz.
Jackie Jimenez Tabor College Jr. C Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Haydn Brown U Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. 1B Gardnerville, Nev.
Drenis Ozuna Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. 2B Orlando, Fla.
Dustin Sipe Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. 3B Aztec, N.M.
Jarrett Gable U Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. SS Colleyville, Texas
Jonah Weisner Ottawa University Sr. UTL Mission, British Columbia, Canada
Brayden Whitchurch Tabor College Sr. OF Wichita, Kan.
Cole Broughton Ottawa University Sr. OF Tushke, Okla.
Kendall Foster Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. OF Prosper, Texas
Jesus Rojas Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. OF Sucre, Venezuela
Tommy Davis Oklahoma Wesleyan University Jr. DH Federal Way, Wash.
Tyler Bryant U Ottawa University Sr. SP Amarillo, Texas
Nathan Righi Kansas Wesleyan University Jr. SP Pekin, Ill.
Jarrett Brannen Kansas Wesleyan University Jr. SP Bakersfield, Calif.
Blake Maddock McPherson College Sr. SP Oakdale, Calif.
Ritter Steinmann Kansas Wesleyan University So. RP Oroville, Calif.

 

U = Unanimous First Team

 

SECOND TEAM

NAME INSTITUTION CLASS POSITION HOMETOWN
Nicholas Chavez Oklahoma Wesleyan University Jr. C Duncanville, Texas
Lukas Rich Ottawa University Sr. C Olathe, Kan.
Cody Moore Tabor College So. 1B Midlothian, Texas
Zachary Spradlin Ottawa University Grad. 2B Hoquiam, Wash.
Secudino Morales York University Jr. 3B Panama City, Panama
Trotter Boston Tabor College So. SS Roswell, N.M.
Jordyn Smith Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. UTL Burlington, N.J.
Caleb Feuerstake McPherson College Sr. OF Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
Caleb McClellan University of Saint Mary So. OF Kansas City, Mo.
Kevin Esquilin-Cruz Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. OF Trujilo Alto, Puerto Rico
Josh Logan Oklahoma Wesleyan University Jr. OF Flower Mound, Texas
Zack Beatty Kansas Wesleyan University Jr. DH Maple Park, Ill.
Ian Heck York University Jr. SP Roseville, Calif.
Matthew Atencio Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. SP San Jose, Calif.
Michael Mendoza Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. SP West Covina, Calif.
Cutter Smith Tabor College Sr. SP Bennett, Colo.
Sergio Gutierrez Tabor College Jr. RP Oxnard, Calif.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

NAME INSTITUTION CLASS POSITION HOMETOWN
Kurt Trotter Avila University Sr. C Oxnard, Calif.
Jordyn Smith Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. 1B Burlington, N.J.
Joseph Rivera Bethany College Jr. 2B Dorado, Puerto Rico
Will Dryburgh Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. 2B St. Joseph, Mo.
Landon Vahle Avila University Jr. SS Lee’s Summit, Mo.
London Penland Southwestern College Jr. SS San Leandro, Calif.
Zeke Henson Friends University So. OF Raymore, Mo.
Gage Ninness McPherson College So. OF Oklahoma City, Okla.
Aaron Gerdes Oklahoma Wesleyan University Sr. OF Omaha, Neb.
Jordan McClellan University of Saint Mary So. OF Kansas City, Mo.
Micah Dvorak Tabor College So. OF Garden City, Kan.
Ryan Romero York University Jr. OF Albuquerque, N.M.
Tyler Triano Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. SP Hollister, Calif.
Darby Gilbert McPherson College 5th Year SP Fairhope, Ala.
Tyler Norris McPherson College 5th Year SP Arvada, Colo.
Evan Foor Oklahoma Wesleyan University So. SP Arcadia, Calif.
Quintin Holman Tabor College So. SP Nebraska City, Neb.
Eric Reece Ottawa University Grad. RP San Antonio, Texas

 

GOLD GLOVE

NAME INSTITUTION CLASS POSITION HOMETOWN
Nicholas Chavez Oklahoma Wesleyan University Jr. C Duncanville, Texas
Haydn Brown Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. 1B Gardnerville, Nev.
Tyler Mata-Lloyd Tabor College Jr. 2B Fort Collins, Colo.
Jonah Weisner Ottawa University Sr. 3B Mission, British Columbia, Canada
Buster Hardman Friends University Jr. SS American Fork, Utah
Caleb Copeland Bethany College Jr. OF Salina, Kan.
Kevin Esquilin-Cruz Kansas Wesleyan University Sr. OF Trujilo Alto, Puerto Rico
Tyler Farnham Ottawa University Jr. OF Santa Clara, Calif.
Blake Maddock McPherson College Sr. P Oakdale, Calif.