Osuna named TCCAA East Player of the Year, nine Senators named to All-TCCAA Baseball East Team
GALLATIN, TN – Walters State filled up the All-TCCAA Baseball East Team on Monday afternoon as they had nine players named to the squad.
Alberto Osuna, Caleb McNeely, Jerry Hammons, Nick Block, Cam Fisher, Noah Gent, Andrew Romanoli, Kohl Drake and Nathan Hickman were all named to the team on Monday. Osuna was named the East's Player of the Year as well. Osuna is Walters State's first conference Player of the Year since Austin Henry won it in 2018.
Osuna enters the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Finals after finishing the season with a .469 average. Osuna had 22 home runs and 94 RBIs, both of those numbers lead the nation as well as the conference. Osuna broke the Walters State record for RBIs in a season as well.
Along with Osuna, Hammons and McNeely were both named to the All-TCCAA team in the infield. The Senators starting third baseman, Hammons hit .412 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs. Those numbers rank him second in the nation and league in home runs and RBIs.
McNeely played 53 games for Walters State this year and hit .354 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. He ranked fifth in the conference in RBIs and fifth in home runs.
Filling out the outfield, both Fisher and Block were named to the All-TCCAA team. Fisher, a Knoxville native, has been a phenomenal addition to this year's team. Fisher hit .349 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs to go along with 18 stolen bases. Fisher ranks third in the conference in RBIs and third in stolen bases.
Block was also a new addition to Walters State and has played in 44 games this season. Block hit .387 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs.
As for the DH, Gent was named to the team after a season that saw him play 46 games. Gent hit .358 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He scored 44 runs as well.
On the mound, Walters State had three pitchers named to the team as Romanoli and Drake were named as starters with Hickman being named the lone relief pitcher.
Romanoli and Drake have been Walters State's two premier pitchers this season. Romanoli has made 10 appearances on the season, eight of them being starts, and is 9-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 40 innings pitched. Romanoli is second in the conference in wins.
Drake has been just as good with 13 appearances, nine of them starts, and an 8-1 record and 2.83 ERA. Drake has struck out 83 in 54 innings pitched. Drake ranks third in the conference in wins and second in strikeouts.
Relieving both Romanoli and Drake all year, Hickman earned the honor as the lone reliever on the team. Hickman made 14 appearances this season and was 3-0 with four saves. The four saves lead the conference. Hickman had a 2.45 ERA and struck out 46 in 33 innings.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics