Three Blinn College baseball players earned all-conference honors after leading the Buccaneers to 33 regular-season victories and second place in the Region XIV Conference South Zone, head coach Harvey McIntyre announced today.
Sophomores Kevin Hahn (Stratford), Jason Simms (Liberty Christian) and Kevin Daniels (St. Joseph’s) were selected after a vote by the South Zone coaches.
Daniels, a sophomore outfielder, hit .341 with six doubles, 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He hit .360 with runners in scoring position, but has been limited to 41 games due to a leg injury that leaves him questionable for the upcoming Region XIV Tournament.
“Talking to the other coaches, they raved about how he plays the game,” McIntyre said. “He works hard and does all the little things. That’s the ultimate compliment you can pay to any player.”
Hahn, a sophomore left-hander who came to Blinn after spending his redshirt freshman season at Rice University, was 7-1 this year with a 3.04 ERA. He recorded 56 strikeouts and just 13 walks over 80 innings.
“He’s about as consistent as they come,” McIntyre said. “He’s going to throw four pitches for strikes and he has an above-average breaking ball. That’s the difference maker for him.”
Simms, a sophomore right-hander, went 6-3 during the regular season, posting a 1.95 ERA along with 60 strikeouts through 55 innings.
“He’s been a shutdown arm for us for two years now,” McIntyre said. “People don’t like facing him, and that’s when you know you have a guy you should feel good about.”
The all-region team will be named Friday night on the eve of the Region XIV Tournament held in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The winner of the tournament will qualify for the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
The Buccaneers, the No. 2 seed out of the South Zone, will open the tournament with a 1 p.m. game against Texarkana College on Saturday. Texarkana is the No. 3 seed out of the East Zone.
Blinn is 33-21 on the season.
In other first-round games Saturday, Alvin and Navarro play at 10 a.m., San Jacinto and Paris play at 5 p.m. and Galveston and Northeast Texas are scheduled for 8 p.m.
