CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Hunter Riggins added another postseason honor when he was named Second-Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) on Monday.
The sophomore becomes the 55th Statesmen to earn ABCA All-American honors and marks the fourth consecutive year that Delta State has at least one player representing on the ABCA All-American teams.
Riggins adds the laurel to a growing list that includes NCBWA Honorable Mention All-American, First-Team All-Gulf South Conference, D2CAA and NCBWA First-Team-All-South Region after posting an 11-4 record with a 1.88 ERA, 82 strikeouts against 33 walks while allowing 43 runs, 23 earned, on 97 hits in 110.0 innings pitched. The Hernando, Miss., native led the GSC in wins, ERA and innings pitched, ranked fourth in strikeouts and third in strikeouts looking. Riggins is sprinkled throughout the NCAA Division II Baseball Statistics, ranking ninth in wins and ERA and fifth in games started (16).
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 11,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 75th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 3-6, 2019 in Dallas, Texas.
Delta State finished the season with a 42-14 record, winning the school's 15th Gulf South Conference Baseball title and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Super Regional in Tampa, Fla. The Statesmen made their 33rd postseason tournament appearance and posted their 15th 40-plus win season under Head Coach Mike Kinnison.
| 2019 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-America Teams |
| All-America First Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Matt Malkin |
Sr. |
MSU Denver |
CO |
| 1B |
Andrew Czech |
Jr. |
Walsh |
OH |
| 2B |
Daulton Martin |
Jr. |
Tusculum |
TN |
| 3B |
Osvaldo Tovalin |
So. |
Azusa Pacific |
CA |
| SS |
Utah Jones |
Sr. |
North Greenville |
SC |
| INF |
Jared Melone |
Sr. |
West Chester |
PA |
| OF |
Josh Elvir |
Jr. |
Angelo State |
TX |
| OF |
Erik Webb |
Jr. |
Central Missouri |
MO |
| OF |
Trevor Kehe |
Jr. |
Colorado School of Mines |
CO |
| OF |
Cole Kleszcz |
Jr. |
Azusa Pacific |
CA |
| DH |
Connor Durden |
Sr. |
USC Aiken |
SC |
| P |
Joshua Loeschorn |
Fr. |
LIU Post |
NY |
| P |
Ethan Elliott |
Sr. |
Lincoln Memorial |
TN |
| P |
Dillon McCollough |
Sr. |
Eckerd |
FL |
| P |
Joe Corbett |
Sr. |
West Texas A&M |
TX |
| RP |
Chris Slavik |
Sr. |
Ashland |
OH |
|
| All-America Second Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Chris Gambert |
Jr. |
Bellarmine |
KY |
| 1B |
Kyle Kaufman |
Sr. |
West Texas A&M |
TX |
| 2B |
Justin Decker |
Sr. |
Dominican |
NY |
| 3B |
Dakota Popham |
Sr. |
Colorado State-Pueblo |
CO |
| SS |
Macy Holdsworth |
Sr. |
Indianapolis |
IN |
| INF |
Eddie Nevins |
Jr. |
Wilmington |
DE |
| OF |
Mason Janvrin |
Jr. |
Central Missouri |
MO |
| OF |
Yorvis Torrealba |
Jr. |
Tampa |
FL |
| OF |
Jordan Hart |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
MN |
| OF |
Ethan Baucom |
Jr. |
UNC Pembroke |
NC |
| DH |
Steven Ring |
Sr. |
Hillsdale |
MI |
| P |
Hunter Riggins |
So. |
Delta State |
MS |
| P |
Tucker Burgess |
Sr. |
North Greenville |
SC |
| P |
Hunter Brown |
Jr. |
Wayne State |
MI |
| P |
Ryan Johnson |
Sr. |
Lubbock Christian |
TX |
| RP |
Will Dixon |
Sr. |
Colorado Mesa |
CO |
|
| All-America Third Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
John Michael Faile |
Fr. |
North Greenville |
SC |
| 1B |
Daniel Cipriano |
Jr. |
Montana State Billings |
MT |
| 2B |
Matt Clarke |
Jr. |
Colorado-Colorado Springs |
CO |
| 3B |
Jacob Buchberger |
Jr. |
Davenport |
MI |
| SS |
Joshua Colon |
Jr. |
Dominican |
NY |
| INF |
Caleb Sneed |
Sr. |
Southwest Baptist |
MO |
| OF |
EJ Cumbo |
Fr. |
NYIT |
NY |
| OF |
Matt Higgins |
So. |
Bellarmine |
KY |
| OF |
Hill Alexander |
Sr. |
Lubbock Christian |
TX |
| OF |
Brenton Doyle |
Jr. |
Shepherd |
WV |
| DH |
Jake Engel |
Jr. |
Dixie State |
UT |
| P |
Matt Minnick |
Sr. |
Mercyhurst |
PA |
| P |
Brandon Weed |
Jr. |
UC San Diego |
CA |
| P |
Zach Parish |
Jr. |
Missouri Southern State |
MO |
| P |
Andrew Dean |
Sr. |
Illinois Springfield |
IL |
| P |
Michael Giacone |
Jr. |
North Greenville |
SC |
| RP |
Jeffrey Praml |
So. |
Southern New Hampshire |
NH |
| RP |
Quinton Driggers |
Jr. |
Newberry |
SC |
|
About the ABCA
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 11,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and an approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University. Also on the committee are Randy Betten (Cal Poly Pomona), Jamie Detillion (Grand Valley State University), Jim Gantt (Catawba College), Rick Giannetti (Dominican College), Matt Jones (Shippensburg University), Rob Penders (St. Edward's University) and Kyle Poock (Winona State University).
