Five Andrew College Baseball Players Nab Post Season Honors
CUTHBERT, Ga. -- The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Baseball coaches announced their All-Region teams, along with selecting the Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Gold Glove team for 2021 season, and Andrew College right fielder Kaleb Podger was selected to the 1st Team All-Region team, and was named the GCAA Player of the Year, a first in Andrew baseball history. Center fielder Jacob Pierce was selected to the 1st Team All-Region team, and was named the GCAA Defensive Player, Jack Hay was 1st Team All-Region Designated Hitter, second baseman Jake Edwards was selected to the 2nd Team All-Region team, and Podger, Pierce, Edwards, and pitcher Jonah Stout were named to the GCAA Gold Glove team.
Podger, a redshirt freshman from Columbus, GA and Shaw High School, finally got to show his immense talent in 2021, following a rehab year, two years ago, then a truncated 2020 that was slowed by injury, then ended by Covid. Given full health, Podger exploded, obliterating the Andrew Baseball single season record for batting average at .457 (previous record .418), setting new marks for hits with 85 (81), total bases with 123 (115), slugging percentage with .661 (.574), and on base percentage with .526 (.500), while also drilling 6 homers and driving in 56 runs. Podger also flashed the leather, handling 89 chances with 5 assists, and no errors in right field.
Pierce, a redshirt freshman from Kathleen, GA and Veterans High School, began his collegiate athletic career in the NCAA Div. I Mercer University defensive backfield, seeing action in all 11 games, while recording 12 tackles, including 7 solo tackles, then transfered to Andrew in January 2020. Finding a home in the leadoff spot, Pierce combined speed with power, leading the team with 9 home runs (along with Jonathan Manibusan), and 39 stolen bases, which broke the previous record of 35. He set the Andrew single season record for runs with 68 (52), led the team with 17 doubles, drove in 45 runs, and handled 127 chances with 3 assists and no errors, while totally shutting off anything from left center to right center, from the wall to the edges of the infield.
Hay, a redshirt freshman from Parkland, FL and St. John Paul High School arrived in January, and began hitting when he got off the plane. Rarely fooled and deceptively strong, he lashed line drives up both gaps, and could turn on mistakes, evidenced by his 8 homers. Hay hit .389, with 70 hits, including 11 doubles and 3 triples, and had 45 RBI.
Edwards, a redshirt freshman from Lawrenceville, GA and Hebron Christian High School worked himself into a player, developing into an offense threat, and handling over 200 chances at second base, with just 7 errors. He hit .309 with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 5 homers and 45 RBI.
Stout, a redshirt freshman from Barnesville, GA and Lamar County High School, led the Tiger staff with 80.2 innings pitched, 7 wins, and 62 strikeouts and won the opening game in the 2021 GCAA Baseball Championships, defeating South Ga. State 10-4 on Saturday.
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