PENSACOLA , Fla. — Standout pitcher John Church (Lake Wales, Fla./Polk CC) of the University of West Florida baseball team has been named by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to the All-America Third Team as a relief pitcher, as it was announced Wednesday afternoon. Church becomes the first Argonaut baseball player to be named to an All-America team since Jeremy Noegel in 2003.
Since the conclusion of the Argos season in early May, Church has received several awards recognizing his on-field performance this past season. He has earned NCBWA All-South Region and ABCA All-South Region First Team honors as well as being named to the All-Gulf South Conference and Daktronics All-South Region Second Team.
Church, who is projected to be taken in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft on June 10th, led the Argos in his first season with a GSC leading 1.55 ERA and an 8-3 record in 21 total appearances. Church worked exclusively out of the bullpen for much of the season before making a couple of spot starts late in the year. Despite working out of the bullpen he was second on the team in innings pitched with 75.1 and struck out a team high 92 batters against only 23 walks, allowing opponents to hit just .211 off of him.
For more information on Argonaut athletics or to follow along with live stats, fans can keep up with the action at www.GoArgos.com.
Player of the Year: Shannon Wilkerson, Augusta State
Pitcher of the Year: Gabriel Duran, Dowling
Coach of the Year: Dan O’Brien, UC San Diego
FIRST TEAM
Catcher: Matt Adams, Slippery Rock
First baseman: Jon Alia, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Second baseman: Kevin Becker, Mesa State
Shortstop: Matt Bodenchuk, Mesa State (unanimous selection)
Third baseman: Yan Gomes, Barry
Outfielder: Shannon Wilkerson, Augusta State (unanimous selection)
Outfielder: Bryan Fogle, Erskine
Outfielder: Jason Fobes, CSU-Pueblo
Outfielder: J.D. Martinez, Nova Southeastern
Utility player: Dustin Huffer, Concord
Designated hitter: Travis Howard, USC Aiken
Starting pitcher: Gabriel Duran, Dowling (unanimous selection)
Starting pitcher: Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas (unanimous selection)
Starting pitcher: Chris Armijo, Incarnate Word
Starting pitcher: Dan Wright, Lynn
Relief pitcher: Shaun Larsen, Southern Indiana
Relief pitcher: Chris Matlock, Central Missouri
SECOND TEAM
Catcher: Ryan Query, Catawba
First baseman: Daniel Kassouf, Belmont Abbey
Second baseman: Cannon Lester, Southern Arkansas
Shortstop: Rich Racobaldo, Mount Olive
Third baseman: Nate Arevalo, Cameron
Outfielder: Matt Cotellese, West Chester
Outfielder: Adam Darby, Harding
Outfielder: Brandon Decker, Valdosta State
Outfielder: Eric Workman, West Virginia State
Utility player: Chris Adamson, Angelo State
Designated hitter: Matt Costello, Valdosta State
Starting pitcher: Nick Fogleman, Pfeiffer
Starting pitcher: Blake Keitzman, Western Oregon
Starting pitcher: Gary Moran, Sonoma State;
Starting pitcher: Ben Watkins, Pitt-Johnstown
Relief pitcher: Brad Rutherford, Abilene Christian
Relief pitcher: Matt Winterhalter, Northern Kentucky
THIRD TEAM
Catcher: Jordan Schmidt, Abilene Christian
First baseman: Evan McDole, Northern Kentucky
Second baseman: Drew Cross, St. Edward’s
Shortstop: Evan Porter, Nebraska-Omaha
Third baseman: Craig Lyerly, Catawba
Outfielder: Conner Crumbliss, Emporia State
Outfielder: Sam DiMatteo, California (Pa.)
Outfielder: Will Gowdy, Ouachita Baptist
Outfielder: Joe Wendtke, Wayne State (Neb.)
Utility player: Andrew Whittington, Southern Arkansas
Designated hitter: Keith Towne, Angelo State
Starting pitcher: Michael Fiers, Nova Southeastern
Starting pitcher: Darin Gorsky, Kutztown
Starting pitcher: Michael Thompson, Bellarmine
Starting pitcher: Kyle Vasquez, Franklin Pierce
Relief pitcher: John Church, West Florida
Relief pitcher: Justin Moore, Dominican
HONORABLE MENTION
C: Chase Blackwood, Valdosta State; Chris Herbert, Concordia-St. Paul
1B: Logan Forest, Texas-Permian Basis; Yudelmis Hernandez, Barry; Andrew Kinney, Southwest Minnesota State; Zach Solly, Fairmont State.
2B: Chas Anthony, Erskine; Mike Baillargeon, Assumption; Carlos Leyva, Cal State Dominguez Hills
SS: Vance Albitz, UC San Diego; Shane Busti, California (Pa.); Devin Goodwin, Delta State
3B: David Olson, Minnesota-Duluth; Jacob Petkac, Ashland; Ethan Santora, Mercyhurst; Josh Tanner, UC San Diego
OF: Adam Arakawa, Chico State; Thomas Bumpass, Abilene Christian; Bo Darby, West Virginia State; Kevin Dietrich, UNC Pembroke; Kevin Dusold, Northern Kentucky; Jeff Foltz, Ashland; Cody Holliday, Wilmington; Mark Letchworth, Wingate; J.T. Putt, Regis; Mario Ramirez, Cal State LA; Chance Tuttle, Central Missouri; Derek West, Southwest Minnesota State
UTL: Tyler Choate, Southern Indiana; Paul-Michael Klingberg, Cal State Dominguez Hills; Alex Koch, Wayne State (Neb.); Phil Messerian, Nyack
DH: Jason Carr, New Mexico Highlands; Josh Meagher, Chico State; Ben Sondgeroth, Indianapolis
SP: Andre Benjamin, Grand Valley State; Brad Bichel, Cameron; Logan Birr, St. Cloud State; Tom Cote, Franklin Pierce; Reece Dodd, Southeastern Oklahoma; Adam Maini, Kutztown; Matt McGovern, UNC Pembroke; Ajay Meyer, Ashland; Bret Moyer, West Chester; Max Russell, Florida Southern; Jake Schmidt, Concordia-St. Paul; Tim Shibuya, UC San Diego; Cody Walden, Armstrong Atlantic; Cory White, Indianapolis
RP: Rob Currie, Tusculum; Martin DeWald, GCSU; Nathan Kafka, Minnesota State; Guido Knudson, UC San Diego; Rob Nicholas, Franklin Pierce; Kenny Reisinger, Shepherd
