KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 22 nationally ranked Central Methodist baseball team was recognized by the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the conference awards from the league office, Wednesday evening. The baseball team landed Coach of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Player of the Year recognition.
Head Coach Nate Breland was recognized as the Heart Coach of the Year, after guiding his team to a 40-14 season record and 26-7 record in conference action. He picked up his 175th win during the span, while the Eagles clinched the regular season championship.
Kyle Fulton (JR/Monroe City, Mo.) earned Pitcher of the Year honors, as well as First-Team All-Conference. This is Fulton's second time as an All-Conference member. He is a perfect 9-0 on the season, while pitching four total shutouts. He currently holds a 0.97 ERA, only giving up eight runs the entire season along with 91 strikeouts. On the national scene, Fulton is ranked in the top ten in five different statistical categories; second in total earned runs allowed (8), second in earned run average (.97), second in total runs allowed (11), sixth in hits allowed per nine (5.69), and sixth in opponent batting average (.184). He has earned Heart Pitcher of the Week on two different occasions, the week of April 2 and April 9. He tallied a career-high 12 strikeouts against Baker in late April.
Randy Perez (SR/Bronx, NY) grabbed the honors of Player of the Year and First-Team All-Conference member. On the mound, Perez is 6-2 with a 5.08 ERA. He has pitched in 62 innings, while recording 82 strikeouts. He tallied a career high of 11 strikeouts against Graceland in early March. At the plate, he is carrying a .412 batting average and .649 slugging percentage. He has six home runs, 61 RBIs, 26 doubles, and a triple on the season. Perez is ranked in the top 20, on the national level, in four different categories; first in total doubles (26), second in doubles per game (.481), 20thin total hits (80), and 20thin total runs batted in (61). He earned Heart Player of the Week for his performance during the week of March 19 and April 2. He marked a career high, five RBIs in a game against Benedictine in mid-March.
Along with Fulton and Perez; Fernando Villegas (SR/Hutchinson, Minn.), Jared Johnson (SR/DeKalb, Ill.), and Logan Haring (SO/DeKalb, Ill.) earned First-Team All-Conference honors. This is Villegas second time on the All-Conference teams. In his second season behind the plate for the Eagles, Villegas has a .348 batting average for seven homers and 23 RBIs. He is ranked No. 10 in total chances with 430 and 11thin chances per game with 8.431. He had a career-high 18 putouts against Doane in March and tied a career high three RBIs against Avila in late March.
This is Johnson's second time on the All-Conference team. Johnson holds a .343 batting average and has recorded five home run, 35 RBIs, 15 doubles, and a triple on the season. Johnson is ranked in two different statistical categories at the national level; ninth in total runs scored 69 and 11 in runs scored per game (1.278).
Haring was the final Eagle to earn First-Team All-Conference honors, marking his second time receiving All-Conference honors. Haring has a team's best 18 home runs and 82 RBIs, with a .399 batting average and .754 slugging percentage. He has reached extra bases on 16 different at-bats. He has a ranking of third in runs batted in per game (1.519), third in total runs batted in (82), 11thin slugging percentage (.754), 13thin home runs (16), 19th in total total bases (138), and 19thin home runs per game (.296). Haring receive Player of the Week honors for his effort during the week of April 23. He tallied a career high six RBIs in a game against Avila and Evangel, this past week.
Seniors, Dariel Checo (SR/New York, NY) and David Salgueiro (SR/Miami, Florida) tabbed Second-Team All-Conference honors. This is Checo's second All-Conference recognition. He currently has a 10-2 record, while on the mound for the Eagles. He holds an ERA of 4.33 in 72.2 innings pitched, tallying 79 strikeouts. He matched a career-high 12 strikeouts against Doane in early March. Checo is ranked 10thin the nation in wins with 10 this season.
In Salgueiro's first season with the Eagles, he has a .344 batting averaging for four home runs, 18 RBIs, nine doubles, and three triples. He has an on base percentage of .468 as the lead-off man, while stealing 27 bases in 30 attempts. Salgueiro recorded a career-high four runs scored against Clarke in the conference tournament and three RBIs against Benedictine in mid-March.
Damian Rodriquez (JR/Laredo, Tex.) tabbed Honorable Mention All-Conference recognitions. In his first season with the Eagles, he has a .310 batting average for 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, and nine doubles. He knocked in a career high five RBIs against Benedictine in mid-March.
The Eagles will return to action in the NAIA Baseball Opening Rounds. The NAIA Selection Show will air on Thursday, May 10that 3:00pm CST. Check out www.cmueagles.com for more game information.
