KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 22 nationally ranked Central Methodist baseball team received four players on the 2018 Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship All-Tournament team, as well as the Most Outstanding Player.
Randy Perez (SR/Bronx, NY) was name the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for his performance over the last week. Along with Perez; Logan Haring (SO/DeKalb, Ill.), DeAndre Smith (SR/Fresno, Calif.), and Kyle Fulton (JR/Monroe City, Mo.) made the team.
Perez guided the Eagles to the finals of the Heart tournament. He closed out the tournament with a .520 batting average and runs batted in per game with 2.20, which was both fifth best in the tournament. He was in a three-way tie for first place in the tournament with 11 RBIs. He concluded the tournament with a total of six runs scored and 13 hits, for two doubles. Perez was also stellar on the mound for the Eagles. He was ninth best in the tournament with a 3.00 ERA and fifth best with opponent batting average at .171. He led all pitchers in the tournament with batters struck out per game with 14.
Smith was a consistent factor during the tournament as he held a .550 batting average. He tied for the seventh best slugging percentage with .850. He added a home run and four RBIs in the tournament, including a double and triple against Avila.
Haring had a great showing in the tournament. He finished with a .348 batting average for two home runs and 11 RBIs. He completed the cycle against Evangel. recording a single, double, triple, and home run in the game. He was 10thin the tournament with a slugging percentage of .826.
The Eagles' ace, Fulton, did not give up any runs in the tournament as he saw eight innings of action. Facing 24 batters in the series, he allowed just one hit, a tournament best .42 opponent batting average and struck out eight.
Heart All Tournament Team:
C - Joshuan Sandoval, MNU
1B - Logan Haring, Central Methodist
2B - Darren Hasch, Peru State
SS - Randy Perez, Central Methodist
3B - Stephan Zanoni, Clarke
OF - DeAndre Smith, Central Methodist
OF - Ricky Marinez, Clarke
OF - Kevin Hunley, Clarke
OF - Connor Enochs, Grand View
DH - Lake Rosson, Clarke
INF - Tanner McVey, Evangel
P - Michael Lopez, Clarke
P - Anthony Ruden, Clarke
P - Kyle Fulton, Central Methodist
Most Outstanding Player - Randy Perez, Central Methodist
The Eagles will return to action in the NAIA Baseball Opening Rounds. The NAIA Selection Show will air on Thursday, May 10that 4:00pm CST. Check out www.cmueagles.com for more game information.
