Georgia Gwinnett College’s Bates Named CAC Baseball Player of the Year

Georgia Gwinnett College catcher Austin Bates has been named the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Year. It was among five specialty awards presented Friday, May 13, by league officials.

The Grizzlies, this year's CAC tournament champions, also had Rob Hamby earning Pitcher of the Year and Braxton Meguiar named Newcomer of the Year. Meanwhile, Jalik Demar of Rust College (Mississippi) was named Freshman of the Year and Iowa Wesleyan University's Blake Beaber was the Coach of the Year.

Bates, the Most Outstanding Player for the CAC Championship tournament, batted .387, drove in 43 runs and had 16 doubles while starting all 56 games for the nationally ranked Grizzlies. He helped manage a pitching staff that had a 2.99 earned run average.

Hamby posted a 7-2 record and 2.90 earned run average in 13 starting assignments. The right hander ranks second on the team with 76 strikeouts, while allowing 11 walks.

Meguiar hit at a .394 clip and had 19 doubles, 45 RBI and 60 runs scored in 56 games as a middle infielder. He also collected 23 stolen bases.

Demar led his team with 28 hits to post a .368 batting average. He scored 19 runs in 26 games and had four doubles and one triple this spring.

Beaber led the Tigers to an appearance in the CAC Championship in their first year as a conference member. This year's 21 victories were the most for the program since winning 24 games in 2012.

Continental Athletic Conference 2022 Baseball All-Conference Team

Player of the Year: Austin Bates, Georgia Gwinnett College

Pitcher of the Year: Rob Hamby, Georgia Gwinnett College

Freshman of the Year: Jalik Demar, Rust College

Newcomer of the Year: Braxton Meguiar, Georgia Gwinnett College

Coach of the Year: Blake Beaber, Iowa Wesleyan University

Starting Pitcher – Christian Dow, Fisher College

Starting Pitcher – Gavin Heltemes, Georgia Gwinnett College

Starting Pitcher – Rob Hamby, Georgia Gwinnett College

Starting Pitcher – Luis Ayesa, Iowa Wesleyan University

Relief Pitcher – Gage Williams, Georgia Gwinnett College

Catcher – Austin Bates, Georgia Gwinnett College

Catcher – Jalin Thomas, Rust College

First Base – Chase Evans, Georgia Gwinnett College

Second Base – Braxton Meguiar, Georgia Gwinnett College

Shortstop – Victor Torres, Fisher College

Third Base – Nicholas Lucchese, Fisher College

Infielder – Jake Defries, Georgia Gwinnett College

Outfield – Zorey Chipman, Crowley's Ridge College

Outfield – Daiton Pass, Edward Waters University

Outfield – Blaze O'Saben, Georgia Gwinnett College

Outfield – Cristian Cordero, Iowa Wesleyan University

Designated Hitter – Livingston Morris, Georgia Gwinnett College

Utility – Jacob Deziel, Fisher College

At-Large – Bobby Wright, Crowley's Ridge College

At-Large – Cameron Pearson, Fisher College

At-Large – Tyler Hickman, Tougaloo College

Honorable Mention

Starting Pitcher – Jack Roney, Crowley's Ridge College

Starting Pitcher – Will Valenti, Edward Waters University

Starting Pitcher – Tyler Clayton, Georgia Gwinnett College

Starting Pitcher – Kevin Kyle, Georgia Gwinnett College

Shortstop – Payton Shubert, Edward Waters University

Shortstop – Jake Leininger, Penn State Schuylkill

Third Base – Jalik Demar, Rust College

Outfielder – Daquarius Thompkins, Edward Waters University

Outfielder – Keilin Washington, Edward Waters University

Outfielder – Elijah Perez, Fisher College

Outfielder – La'Nas Torrey, Tougaloo College

Designated Hitter – Luis Rodriguez, Edward Waters University

Utility – Derek Marrufo, Iowa Wesleyan University