THREE WONDER BOYS RECEIVE ALL-GSC BASEBALL HONORS

        RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Three Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys baseball players were named to the Gulf South Conference All-GSC squads Thursday afternoon in a release from the league office in Hoover, Ala.

          Senior outfielder Jantzen Black (Greenwood, Ark.) and freshman designated hitter Jonathan Houston (Conway, Ark.) were each named to the All-GSC First Team while junior third baseman Tony Sanchez (Mesquite, Texas) was named to the All-GSC Second Team.

          In the west division Delta State and Southern Arkansas had the most honorees with nine each on the two teams. Ouachita Baptist had seven players selected, Henderson State placed four players, Tech had three, Harding had two honorees and Christian Brothers had one player selected.

          Meanwhile in the east division, West Alabama has 12 overall selections, Valdosta State had seven, North Alabama and West Georgia had six a piece, Movtevallo had three, and West Florida had one.

          For the second time since 1997, the Player of the Year honor was split in the GSC West Division with Delta State catcher Ricky Noland and Ouachita Baptist first baseman Destan Makonnen sharing the award. West Alabama third baseman Rob Dahlberg was named the GSC East Division Player of the Year.

          For Tech, this was Black’s second time named to the All-GSC team. He was selected as a second teamer a year ago. This season Black posted a batting average of .452 while hitting four homeruns and driving in 37. Black tallied 109 total bases and managed to steal 10 bases on 11 attempts. The senior had a team-best .694 slugging percentage and posted a 30-game hitting streak at one point this season, which is the best in school history. Also, early on in the season, Black managed 11 straight hits in 11 straight at bats which is a school and GSC record.

          Houston receives first-team honors after solidifying himself in the middle of Tech’s lineup primarily as a designated hitter. The freshman played in 35 games while starting 33 of those this season. He hit .339 with three homeruns and 26 RBIs. He had a slugging percentage of .541 which was second best on the team. Houston, along with West Division Freshman of the Year Hayden Simpson, were the only freshman named on the All-GSC West Division First Team.

          Sanchez was placed on the All-GSC West Division Second Team after posting a batting average of .339, four homeruns and 30 RBIs. Sanchez played and started all 45 games for the Wonder Boys this season, most of the time at third base. Sanchez, along with Black, posted 11 hits in 11 consecutive bats earlier this season which is a school and GSC record.

          Below is a list of all players named to the West Division First and Second teams:

 West Division First Team

C – Rickey Noland, Delta State, Sr.

1B – Destan Makonnen, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.

2B – Clay Sartain, Delta State, Jr.

3B – Chris Clark, Delta State, Sr.

3B – Rudy Jovanovski, Ouachita Baptist, Jr.

SS – Pat Robey, Southern Arkansas, Sr.

DH – Jonathan Houston, Arkansas Tech, Fr.

OF – Jantzen Black, Arkansas Tech, Sr.

OF – Hunter Jobes, Delta State, Sr.

OF – Justin Pennell, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.

OF – John Long, Southern Arkansas, Sr.

SP – Korey Cunningham, Delta State, Jr.

SP – Steve Smith, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.

SP – Cody Jones, Southern Arkansas, Sr.

SP – Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas, Fr.

RP – Jeremy Jenkins, Southern Arkansas, Sr.

West Division Co-Players of the Year – Rickey Noland, Delta State & Destan Makonnen, Ouachita Baptist

West Division Freshman of the Year – Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas

West Division Second Team 

C – Brandon Graves, Southern Arkansas, Jr.

1B – Joe Kaminski, Christian Brothers, So.

1B – Robert Gilbert, Henderson State, So.

2B – Cannon Lester, Southern Arkansas, So.

3B – Tony Sanchez, Arkansas Tech, Jr.

3B – James Schroeder, Southern Arkansas, Jr.

SS – Bo Whitaker, Harding, Sr.

DH – Chandler Boyce, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.

OF – Aaron Roberts, Harding, Jr.

OF – Mike Devito, Henderson State, Sr.

OF – Jeremy Sauceda, Henderson State, Jr.

OF – Blake Lockwood, Ouachita Baptist, Jr.

OF – Tyler Maag, Southern Arkansas, Jr.

SP – Kenny Smalley, Delta State, Jr.

SP – Justin Smith, Delta State, Sr.

SP – Chris Brown, Henderson State, Jr.

SP – Chase Baran, Ouachita Baptist, Jr.

RP – Levi Bishop, Delta State, Jr.

2008 All-GSC Baseball Teams

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