BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fifteen Gulf South Conference baseball student-athletes were named to the 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-South Region Team, as announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Wednesday.
Headlining the awardees, was Montevallo senior third baseman Sam Kuchinski who was voted as the South Region Player of the Year, while West Florida sophomore Dalton Neuschwander was recognized as South Region Pitcher of the Year.
OFFICIAL RELEASE
As a conference, the Gulf South Conference co-led the region with 15 honorees, alongside the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), while recording a region-best nine First Team selections. The GSC had eight member institutions represented—Alabama Huntsville, Montevallo, Lee, Shorter, Valdosta State, West Alabama, West Florida and West Georgia. Montevallo had a league-best three All-Region selections. It was followed by Alabama Huntsville, Shorter, West Alabama, West Florida and West Georgia with two representatives, while Lee and Valdosta State had one awardee apiece.
Kuchinski, the GSC Player of the Year, was one of the best players in the nation ranking among in the top-30 nationally in several categories while leading the GSC in batting average (.420), homers (16), on-base percentage (.559), RBI (69), slugging percentage (.787), total bases (137), home runs per game (0.31), and RBI per game (1.32) during the regular season.
Neuschwander, the GSC Pitcher of the Year, finished the season with an undefeated 10-0 record in 16 appearances. The sophomore right-hander also registered a 1.87 ERA and held his opponents to a .198 batting average. In 101.1 innings pitched, he totaled 77 strikeouts and had a low 31 runs scored, 21 of which were earned, in 73 hits against while on the mound.
The 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region Teams and Regional Players of the Year have been announced in all eight regions. 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.
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University. Also on the committee are Randy Betten (Cal Poly Pomona), Jamie Detillion, Jim Gantt (Catawba College), Rick Giannetti (Dominican College), Dave Hajek (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs), Alex Koch (Wayne State College) and Joe Spano (Mercyhurst University).
The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-America teams will be announced the evening of Friday, June 2 immediately following the Opening Banquet at the 2023 NCAA Div. II World Series in Cary, North Carolina. First Team All-Region selections are eligible for All-America honors.
ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II South All-Region
Region Position Player of the Year: Sam Kuchinski, Montevallo
Region Pitcher of the Year: Dalton Neuschwander, West Florida
FIRST TEAM
C - Drew Cavanaugh, Florida Southern
1B - Darrien McDowell, West Florida
2B - Reed Latimer, Montevallo
3B - Sam Kuchinski, Montevallo
SS - JD Urso, Tampa
INF - Michael Ballard, Eckerd
OF - Malachi Cloud, Lee
OF - EJ Cumbo, Tampa
OF - Jordan Lala, Tampa
OF - Anthony Calabro, West Georgia
DH - JP Gates, Valdosta State
UT - Landon Ezzell, Alabama Huntsville
P - Carlos Rey, Nova Southeastern
P - Tanner Folds, Shorter
P - Alex Canney, Tampa
P - Dalton Neuschwander, West Florida
RP - Will Hotalen, Alabama Huntsville
SECOND TEAM
C - Luke Mitchell, Montevallo
1B - Joseph Esparza, Kentucky State
2B - Adams Torres, Rollins
3B - Michael Rich, West Alabama
SS - Blake Vineyard, West Alabama
INF - Sam Ladner, West Georgia
OF - Braden Forchic, Barry
OF - Bryce Safferwich, Florida Southern
OF - Joe Smith, Savannah State
OF - Kobe Jones, Shorter
DH - Joe Stella, Barry
UT - Connor Berry, Florida Southern
P - Jeremiah Reddell, Albany State
P - Mike Reagan, Barry
P - Drew Dwyer, Lynn
P - Enrico Peele, Savannah State
RP - Nick Jennings, Saint Leo