GREENSBORO, N.C. – The 2017 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region teams and Regional Players of the Year have been announced in all eight regions with five University of North Georgia players earning the honor.
Michael Gouge and
Daniel McCrary collected first team All-Region honors, while teammates
Connor Hoover,
Dylan Peppers and
Bill Leroy were named second team All-Region.
“This year’s success has been fueled by a team-first attitude in the locker room, but it is great to see these five young men honored for their individual successes,” stated head coach Tom Cantrell. “The All-Region honor is well-deserved by this group of players.”
The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee.
ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans will be announced on Tuesday, May 30. The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team will be announced on Wednesday, June 21.
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 8,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 74th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 4-7, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The No. 3 Nighthawks (46-10) open play at the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball Championships in Grand Prairie, Texas on Saturday, May 27 against No. 21 West Chester at 3:00 p.m. CST. The championship appearance is the first-ever for the UNG baseball program.
