Fifty-two Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball players have been named to the 2017 Black College Nines’ Elite Teams along with selections for Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year honors. We’ve added Freshmen of the Year honors for the outstanding newcomers that made an immediate impact to their respective teams. First and second team selections were made in both the Large School Division (made up of NCAA Division I schools) and Small School Division (made up of NCAA Divisions II and Division III schools as well both NAIA and Independent schools).
Selections were made based upon research and statistical information provided by coaching staffs and their sports information directors. Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year awards were voted upon by Black College Nines staff and members of the national media.
The 2017 HBCU National Baseball Player, Pitcher, Freshmen and Coach of the Year:
Large School Division
Player of the Year – Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State University)
Pitcher of the Year – Devin Hemmerich (Norfolk State University)
Freshmen of the Year – Cage Cox (Alabama State University)
Coach of the Year – Ben Hall (North Carolina A&T University)
Small School Division
Player of the Year – David White Jr, (Benedict College)
Pitcher of the Year – Kyle Chavez (Talladega College)
Freshmen of the Year – Darrius England (Voorhees College)
Coach of the Year – Marcos Dominquez (Talladege College)
Special Service Award
Sports Information Director of the Year – Bryan Harvey (Bethune Cookmen University)
Sports Information Director of the Year – Romanda Noble-Watson (Claflin University)
Sports Information Director of the Year – Matthew Michalec (Norfolk State University)
The Darien Brown Story (Tuskegee University Baseball) – Aliyah Smith (ESPNU)
First Team
1B Gustavo Rios (Alabama State)
2B Corey Joyce (North Carolina Central)
3B Ray Hernandez (Alabama State)
SS Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State)
OF Aurbrey McCarty (Florida A&M)
OF Miles Sowell (North Carolina A&T)
OF Willis McDaniel (Florida A&M)
C Adan Ordonez (North Carolina A&T)
DH Cage Cox (Alabama State)
P Devin Hemmerich (Norfolk State)
P Miguel Yrigoyen (Jackson State)
P Anthony Maldonado (Bethune Cookmen)
RP Austin Bizzle (Alabama State)
Second Team
1B Danny Rodriguez (Bethune-Cookman)
2B Cornelius Copeland (Jackson State)
3B Jesus Santana (Jackson State)
SS Brandon Melendez (North Carolina A&T)
OF Olajide Oloruntimilehin (Texas Southern)
OF Cody De Beste (Prairie View A&M)
OF Tray Bell (Grambling State)
C Evan Regez (Delaware State)
DH Jamar Criss (Coppin State)
P Tyler Howe (Alabama State)
P Tyler Norris (Bethune Cookmen)
P Aurbrey McCarty (Florida A&M)
RP Ivan Coutinho (Bethune Cookmen)
Small School Division
First Team
1B Carlos Andrade (Jarvis Christian College)
2B Ivan Acuna (Winston Salem State)
3B Darrius England (Voorhees College)
SS Garrett Mack (Voorhees College)
OF David White, Jr. (Benedict College)
OF Jahleel Sewer (Virginia State)
OF DeAndre McGuire (Jarvis Christian College)
C David Markins (Virginia State)
DH Greg Alexander (Kentucky State)
P Joseph Lyall (Jarvis Christian College)
P Richard Edwards (Edward Waters College)
P Kyle Chavez (Talladega College)
RP Tyler Boles (Harris-Stowe State)
Second Team
1B Leobardo Saldivar Jr, (Harris-Stowe State)
2B Kevin Usselman (Stillman College)
3B Reeves Brashear (Miles College)
SS Jordan Pontious (Edward Waters College)
OF Ryan Green (Tuskegee University)
OF Timothy Carter (Saint Augustine’s)
OF Gustavo Castellano (Talladega College)
C Dylan Yankle (Harris-Stowe State)
DH Matthew Washington (West Virginia State)
P Austin Pate (Miles College)
P Robert Trojano (Benedict College)
P Kanoa Hironaka (Winston Salem State)
RP Matt Burrows (Jarvis Christian College)
To view 2017 stats of the All-Elite team, click here.