Baseball

SU's Martin, LYN's Neaves, Carson Highlight ODAC Baseball Postseason Awards

Posted: Jun 03, 2021

FOREST, Va. --- Shenandoah University second baseman Colby Martin is joined by University of Lynchburg outfielder Avery Neaves and utility man Kinston Carson in highlighting a long list of ODAC baseball players to earn All-America and/or All-Region postseason awards from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and D3baseball.com.

Martin, the ODAC Player of the Year, added to an already stocked mantle of 2021 honors by earning First Team All-America nods by both the ABCA and D3baseball.com. Neaves received First Team All-America recognition from D3baseball.com as well as Honorable Mention All-America laurels from the ABC. Carson garnered Honorable Mention All-America plaudits from D3baseball.com.

A total of 17 players earned All-South Region honors from at least one of the outlets. SU's Martin was named the Player of the Year for the South Region by both the ABCA and D3baseball.com.

ABCA ALL-SOUTH REGION

Bridgewater (1) | Jarret Biesecker (3rd - OF)
Eastern Mennonite (1) | Jaylon Lee (2nd - OF)
Emory & Henry (1) | Chandler Kezele (3rd - DH)
Ferrum (1) | Josh Greenway (3rd - OF)
Lynchburg (5) | Kinston Carson (1st - UT), Avery Neaves (1st - OF), Brandon Pond (1st - P), Zack Potts (2nd - P), Grayson Thurman (2nd - P)
Randolph-Macon (2) | Ethan Iannuzzi (2nd - OF), Jacob Selden (3rd - C)
Roanoke (1) | Carter Plunkett (1st - DH)
Shenandoah (4) | Pearce Bucher (2nd - 3B), Colby Martin (1st - 2B), Frankie Ritter (1st - SS), Keegan Woolford (2nd - 1B)

D3BASEBALL.COM ALL-SOUTH REGION

Eastern Mennonite (1) | Jaylon Lee (2nd - OF)
Lynchburg (5) | Kinston Carson (2nd - UT), Avery Neaves (1st - OF), Brandon Pond (2nd - SP), Zack Potts (3rd - SP), Grayson Thurman (3rd - RP)
Roanoke (1) | Carter Plunkett (1st - DH)
Shenandoah (4) | Pearce Bucher (1st - 3B), Colby Martin (1st - 2B), Frankie Ritter (1st - SS), Keegan Woolford (3rd - 1B)
Washington and Lee (1) | Chapin Bassi (3rd - 2B)

Martin, a sophomore from Lititz, Pa., is the 13th player in program history to earn either playing or academic All-America honors and the first since Keegan Woolford '20, '21 earned the D3baseball.com accolade in 2018. Martin helped lead SU to a 31-11 season this year with a .482 batting average along with eight home runs, seven triples, 55 RBI and 25 stolen bases.

Martin is currently fourth in the nation in batting average and third in hits. He hit safely in 38-of-42 games this season, had 28 multiple hit games, and ended the year on a 16-game hitting streak. He also reached base safely in the Hornets final 24 contests. Martin's seven triples are a new school-record, and he led the league in batting average, hits, triples, total bases, stolen bases, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

Neaves, an sophomore from Reston, Va., broke the Hornets' and ODAC's single-season record for RBI with 69. His 64 runs scored, 51 games played, and 38 walks also established new program records. He led the conference in all the aforementioned categories, along with doubles (18), triples (seven), total bases (134), and stolen bases (25). The sophomore also had a team-best 10 home runs and .377 batting average.

Neaves reached base in 48 of Lynchburg's 51 games, put together hit streaks of 12 and eight contests, and had six games with multiple extra-base hits. He was twice selected the ODAC's Player of the Week.

Carson, a graduate student outfielder and left-handed pitcher from Tappohannock, Va., got it done both at the plate and on the mound for the Hornets in 2021. He shook off an early-season injury to hit .318 with 11 doubles, four triples, and three home runs. Carson also drove in 42 runs in 47 games, and his eight sacrifice flies led the ODAC. He enjoyed a 38-game on-base streak between March 9 and May 28.

On the hill, Carson pitched to a 3.02 ERA and a 3-2 won-lost record. His 53 strikeouts ranked eighth in the conference. He was lights out in conference play, logging a 1.25 ERA and 42 strikeouts over eight starts.