Alan Hoskins, Supervisor of Public Information
Thursday, May 17, 2012
College Advancement
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s top three hitters this spring have earned All-Jayhawk Conference post-season baseball honors.
Sophomore outfielder Shaun Williams of Wichita Northwest was named to the first All-Jayhawk team; shortstop Jacob Woods of Blue Springs was selected on the second team; and first baseman Dean Long of Lebanon, Mo., earned honorable mention. Woods and Long are both freshmen.
The Blue Devils, who finished 32-26 overall and 20-16 in the Jayhawk, made a big comeback in the super regional playoffs. After an opening round 9-4 loss to Pratt, the Blue Devils eliminated Cloud County 11-8 and had an early 3-0 lead on Jayhawk East champion Johnson County before losing 5-3 in 10 innings on two unearned runs. The season was also highlighted by head coach Steve Burleson’s 1,000th win at KCKCC.
In addition to hitting .322 with 19 runs batted in, Williams was a defensive standout for the Blue Devils with 111 putouts, four outfield assists and only one error in 55 games.
Woods led the Blue Devils in hitting with a .381 batting average while driving in 38 runs while Long hit .360 and led the team in RBI with 44 and extra base hits with 22 including four home runs.
Outfielder Dave Richards of Grain Valley, who hit .297 with four home runs and 21 RBI, and Cowley transfer R.J. Barnes, who hit. 271 with 10 RBI in 36 games sharing catching duties, are the only other position starters who will be lost.
Returning starters in addition to Woods and Long include centerfielder Andrew Kreiling of Raymore-Peculiar, who hit .308 with 31 RBI; third baseman Poncho Amaya of Harmon, who batted .306 with 39 RBI; outfielder Trent Sullivan of Blue Valley, .255 with 12 RBI; and catcher Caleb Waddell of Killen, Ala., .198 with 10 RBI.
Several middle infielders who split starting time will also return including Zac Butler of Blue Springs, who hit .519 in 10 games; Matt Dye of Liberty, .344 in 30 games; Brandon Witt of Cleveland, Ohio, .304 in 18 games; and Landon Teal of Harrisonville, .222 in 13 games. Both Butler, who also was the starting pitchers in 10 games, and Teal were hampered by injuries.
The pitching staff, however, faces a major rebuilding with the loss of three starters and closer Parker McDaniel of Tulsa, who was 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in a team-high 22 appearances. Starters departing are Mark Speckles of Olathe East, who was 3-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 12 games as a starter and reliever; Jesse Foulk of Olathe, 4-3 with a 5.94 ERA in 11 starts; and Payton Bosserman of Grain Valley, 2-6 with a 6.11 ERA in 10 starts.
Dylan Donley of Raymore-Peculiar and Zac Butler will return as starters. Donley led the Blue Devils in wins (5-4) and ERA (2.77) in 11 starts while Butler was 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 10 starts. Other returnees who worked at least 18 or more innings include Tyler Lankford of Derby, 2-2 and 2.75; Derrick Winter of West Des Moines, 3-1 and 5.13; Landon Teal, 2-0 and 5.30; and Cisco Medina of Boulder, Colo., 3-0 and 6.21.