Thursday afternoon the Great Rivers Athletic Conference NJCAA Region XXIV end-of-season awards were released.
The big winner was Centralia native Cruz Harlan. The freshman infielder was named both the GRAC and Region Freshman of the Year.
In his first collegiate season, Harlan slashed .391/.523/.615 with 43 RBIs, 13 doubles, and nine home runs. He also swiped 26 bases on 28 steal attempts.
Harlan’s .948 fielding percentage was also good enough for Region XXIV Gold Glove award. Other Vols to pick up Gold Gloves were Trey Swiderski and Bryer Arview.
A pair of Vols pitchers took home Pitcher of the Year awards. Thomas Howard was named the GRAC Pitcher of the Year while Taylor Waldon was named the Region XXIV Pitcher of the Year
Howard was 5-0 in the GRAC this season (9 appearances) with a 1.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and struck out 49 batters. On the season, he was 8-2 with a 2.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts.
Waldron was a perfect 9-0 this season in 14 appearances. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 1.13 WHIP alongside 84 strikeouts.
John A. Logan coach Kyle Suprenant was named the GRAC Coach of the Year. Suprenant guided the Vols to a 49-10 overall record and a 27-3 record in the conference.
All-GRAC selections included Harlan, Howard, Waldron, Swiderski, Bryce Nevils, and Jaden Hart.
All-Region XXIV selections included Harlan, Waldron, Arview, Hart, and Austin Wiegand.
