War Hawks Garner ASC Baseball Post-Season Awards
By: McMurry Athletics
Updated: May 9, 2012
RICHARDSON, Texas - Fresh
off of reaching the championship game of the American Southwest
Conference tournament, McMurry University had eight of its players
receive post-season honors from the league.
Recognized for ASC West Division First Team accolades were senior first baseman Matt Thompson, junior outfielder Dylan De Leon and redshirt-freshman third baseman Nick Marsh. Freshman designated hitter Connor Griffith and junior starting pitcher Spencer Smith were Second Team choices. Senior second baseman Marcellous Biggins, senior shortstop Kory Moench and senior catcher Bradd Baker received Honorable Mention recognition.
Thompson had a banner season in shining as, arguably, the ASC's best all-around player. In McMurry's final season as league members (the War Hawks' athletics program moves to NCAA Division II next season), Thompson posted numbers unmatched by either of the players who were voted the co-MVP award by the ASC coaches, batting .404 with 43 runs, 36 RBI and 25 extra-base hits. Of the 12 offensive categories listed by the ASC, he ranked in the top five in 10 of them and led the circuit in home runs (9), on-base average (.518) and slugging percentage (.705):
He also had a sterling .991 fielding percentage, committing four errors in 428 total chances. For good measure, he ranked fifth in stolen bases, as well. Thompson earned the ASC West Division's "Player of the Week" award four times during the year.
DeLeon hit .339 on the year and had one of the most-respected arms in the outfield. DeLeon collected 62 hits - including 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs - and drove in 26 runs. Among his 2012 accomplishments was a 21-game hitting streak. He ranked 10th in the ASC in total bases and 8th in hits.
Marsh proved to be a sparkplug for the War Hawks in his first official collegiate campaign. He hit .279 in holding down the "hot corner" for McMurry. He had six doubles and one homer, driving in 22 runs. He was 7-of-10 in stolen base attempts.
Griffith had the War Hawks' third-best batting average at .333, coming on strong in the season's second half. He led the team with 14 doubles and booked 17 RBI in 96 at-bats.
Smith led the McM pitching staff in innings pitched (94 1/3), ERA (3.63), complete games (5), shutouts (2), and strikeouts (61). The righthander compiled a 6-4 record. Smith had one ASC West Player of the Week honor. In the ASC stats, he led the league in innings pitched and shutouts, while finishing eighth in strikeouts and fourth in complete games.
Biggins was also an ASC West POTW honoree after tying a school - and ASC - record with four doubles in a game versus Southwestern. He ended the season batting .282, with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. He also was brilliant on defense, routinely making difficult plays on his way to a .974 fielding percentage.
Moench closed out his collegiate career by compiling a .274 batting average and starting every game for the War Hawks. Moench scored 21 runs and drove in 21 more, as well. He was 10-of-13 in steal attempts.
Baker was the emotional leader of the McM team from behind the plate. Batting .258, he also drew 17 walks. Baker cut down a total of 17 runners trying to steal on him in 36 attempts.
Recognized for ASC West Division First Team accolades were senior first baseman Matt Thompson, junior outfielder Dylan De Leon and redshirt-freshman third baseman Nick Marsh. Freshman designated hitter Connor Griffith and junior starting pitcher Spencer Smith were Second Team choices. Senior second baseman Marcellous Biggins, senior shortstop Kory Moench and senior catcher Bradd Baker received Honorable Mention recognition.
Thompson had a banner season in shining as, arguably, the ASC's best all-around player. In McMurry's final season as league members (the War Hawks' athletics program moves to NCAA Division II next season), Thompson posted numbers unmatched by either of the players who were voted the co-MVP award by the ASC coaches, batting .404 with 43 runs, 36 RBI and 25 extra-base hits. Of the 12 offensive categories listed by the ASC, he ranked in the top five in 10 of them and led the circuit in home runs (9), on-base average (.518) and slugging percentage (.705):
He also had a sterling .991 fielding percentage, committing four errors in 428 total chances. For good measure, he ranked fifth in stolen bases, as well. Thompson earned the ASC West Division's "Player of the Week" award four times during the year.
DeLeon hit .339 on the year and had one of the most-respected arms in the outfield. DeLeon collected 62 hits - including 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs - and drove in 26 runs. Among his 2012 accomplishments was a 21-game hitting streak. He ranked 10th in the ASC in total bases and 8th in hits.
Marsh proved to be a sparkplug for the War Hawks in his first official collegiate campaign. He hit .279 in holding down the "hot corner" for McMurry. He had six doubles and one homer, driving in 22 runs. He was 7-of-10 in stolen base attempts.
Griffith had the War Hawks' third-best batting average at .333, coming on strong in the season's second half. He led the team with 14 doubles and booked 17 RBI in 96 at-bats.
Smith led the McM pitching staff in innings pitched (94 1/3), ERA (3.63), complete games (5), shutouts (2), and strikeouts (61). The righthander compiled a 6-4 record. Smith had one ASC West Player of the Week honor. In the ASC stats, he led the league in innings pitched and shutouts, while finishing eighth in strikeouts and fourth in complete games.
Biggins was also an ASC West POTW honoree after tying a school - and ASC - record with four doubles in a game versus Southwestern. He ended the season batting .282, with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. He also was brilliant on defense, routinely making difficult plays on his way to a .974 fielding percentage.
Moench closed out his collegiate career by compiling a .274 batting average and starting every game for the War Hawks. Moench scored 21 runs and drove in 21 more, as well. He was 10-of-13 in steal attempts.
Baker was the emotional leader of the McM team from behind the plate. Batting .258, he also drew 17 walks. Baker cut down a total of 17 runners trying to steal on him in 36 attempts.
