Baseball Earns Awards From AAC
Waleska, Ga.- The baseball took home some hardware with the announcement of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) year-end awards. Along with the team's seven All-Conference members, Cody McGill was named the Freshman of the Year and Billy Berry was named the Coach of the Year.
McGill batted .304 on the season, collecting 35 hits and scoring 25 times so far this season. The Cartersville, Ga., native had six home runs, four doubles, and a triple to accumulate 25 RBIs in 36 games.
This is the 10th time Berry has taken home the AAC Coach of the Year award (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021). The 16th-year head coach led the Bulldogs to a 40-7 overall record and a 29-1 record in the AAC, clinching the team's 11th consecutive AAC Regular Season Title. The team's 29 conference wins set a program and AAC record for most conference wins in a season. This is the third straight season the team has ninth time in his tenure Berry has led the program to at least 40 wins in a season and the
Being named to the All-AAC First Team were Sam Rochard, Blake Peyton, Marco Martinez, Dan Sayre, Carson Ford, Andre Tarver, and Kyle Bloor.
Rochard earned a spot on the First Team as a pitcher. Rochard had a 6-0 record on the season, pitching in 16 games with four starts. The junior only gave up 16 runs, while striking out 61 batters and surrendering 13 walks. The Williamsburg, Va., native had a 2.89 earned run average while pitching 46.2 innings.
Peyton joined Rochard in the pitcher spot on the First Team. The San Diego, Calif., native led the team with 93 strikeouts this season in 59.1 innings pitched. Peyton only gave up 26 runs on the season. The freshman finished the season with a 7-0 record in 13 starts and pitched one complete game in his 14 appearances. Peyton's 3.49 ERA is the fifth-best in the AAC and his strikeout total is third in the conference.
Martinez made the First Team in the second basemen position. The La Puente, Calif., native had 41 hits in the regular season, 11 of which were home runs. The junior batted .380 in 31 games this season and added seven doubles and one triple to his stash. Martinez had 37 RBIs in the regular season and scored 29 times.
Sayre was voted to the First Team in the shortstop position. The senior led the team with 50 RBIs (fourth-most in the conference), was tied for the team lead in home runs with 12, and scored 52 times. Sayre also led the team with 66 hits in 47 games, including a team-high 13 doubles and a batting average of .349. The Marina, Calif., native led the AAC with 32 stolen bases.
Ford nabbed one of the four outfielder positions on the First Team. The senior was the co-leader in home runs on the team (12) and was third on the team in stolen bases with 23. Ford batted .354 on the season, had the second most hits (63), and was tied for second in doubles with 12. Ford brought in 44 runs this season with his bat while scoring 51 times with his feet (both second-most on the team) in 47 games.
Tarver took one of the other outfielder spots on the First Team. In 43 games, the Ringgold, Ga., was third on the team with 50 hits and 42 RBIs. The sophomore hit seven home runs this season in the process of scoring 44 times. Tarver led the team with a .397 batting average, the fifth-best in the conference.
Bloor was selected to the team as the relief pitcher. In 17 appearances during the 2023 season, Bloor has a 3-0 record and is tied for the conference lead in saves with seven. Bloor has struck out 36 batters in 25.1 innings and holds a 3.20 ERA on the season.
Being named to the AAC Gold Glove Team were Evan Magill (First Base), Martinez (Second Base), Sayre (Shortstop), Ford (Left Field), and Tarver (Center Field).
In 47 games, Magill had 367 total chances, converting 348 into putouts and assisting on 19 for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Magill was involved in 16 double plays.
Martinez was 118 of 120 on total chances, 50 of which were assists for a .983 fielding percentage. Martinez played a role in 10 double plays.
At shortstop, Sayre had 60 putouts and 120 assists in his 190 total chances, giving him a .963 fielding percentage. Sayre was a part of 19 double plays.
In the outfield, Ford completed 44 putouts and two assists in 46 total chances for a 1.000 fielding percentage in left field. Tarver had 69 putouts and one assist in center field, giving him a .986 fielding percentage.
Carter Gannaway was chosen as the team's representative on the AAC Champions of Character Team. To be named to the Champions of Character Team, a player must exhibit the NAIA's Five Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership.
Seizing a spot on the AAC All-Academic Team were Cade Bochlter, Ford, Gannaway, Turner Mann, Charlie Swafford, and Jacob Tolson. To earn a spot on the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be a sophomore in academic standing and maintain a 3.25 grade-point average.