Baseball Announces 2020 Team Awards

Baseball Announces 2020 Team Awards
Head Baseball Coach, Brian Bauerle, has announced the team accolades for the 2020 season.  The Cougars were looking to their opportunity to defend their 2019 Region XIV Championship and seemed to be progressing to that end when the season was canceled by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  The Cougars finished the 2020 season 15-11, with one of those wins coming in the form of Coach Bauerle's 100th career win on Luis Martinez No-Hitter vs. nationally ranked Western Oklahoma State College.  Martinez would receive NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance.
 
 
Newcomer of the Year: Alec Cruz 
-10 Appearances 
-1 win
-0 losses 
-4 saves 
-9 innings pitched 
-2 runs given up
-0 earned runs 
-5 walks 
-7 strikeouts
-7.00 strike out to walk ratio 
-0.00 ERA
 
Head Coach, Brian Bauerle on Cruz being named, Newcomer of the Year, " Alec Cruz, Guy has Got a real electric arm and he's got a bright future ahead of him. I'm hoping for big things from cruz next year. he didn't get as many opportunities in the closing roll as I wanted for him but to have that guy in the back of your bullpen, waiting for his chance to step on the rubber. as a pitching coach you know he's gonna give you everything he's got each time he's steps on the mound."
 
Most Improved: Bret Copeland
- 24 games played 
-65 at bats 
-9 runs scored 
-19 hits 
-2 doubles 
-1 triple
-2 homeruns 
-10 RBI
-6 walks
-25 strikeouts
-4 stolen bases 
-.292 batting avg
-.387 opposing batting %
-.446 Slugging %
 
Coach Bauerle states, " Bret has been was of the hardest workers we've had here at CBC. With that being said, he's become one of the most improved guys we've seen from last year. He has taken over the short stop role and had embraced it. Though short stop is a tough roll, and theres always some action going on. Bret has been able to learn and improve over time being here at CBC at its starting tp pay off for him. Looking forward to having him back next year."
 
Pitcher of the year: Luis Martinez
- 6 Appearances 
-5 Starts
-4  wins
-1 loss
-38 innings pitched 
- 17 hits 
-12 runs giving up
-8 earned runs 
-24 walks
-55 strikeouts
- 13.03 strike out to walk ratio 
-2 home runs
-1.89 ERA
 
Here's what Pitching Coach, Ryan Benitez had to say about his Pitcher of the year, " Luis Martinez is a special kid, From being my best arm out of the bullpen his first year. To becoming my #1 on the mound this year. He's dude on the mound. Completely different kid when its game day, comes to the field field every day laid back and wanting to having fun in practice..come game day.. headphones are in, and he's locked in on what he's about to do. Watching him Learn how to pitch and not just "throw hard" has become one of the proudest moments of my career. He's beomce quite the pitcher and he's going to do big things for incarnate Word. Wish him nothing but the best at The University of Incarnate Word."
 
Offensive Player of the year: Eric Martinez
-24 games played 
-74 at bats
-14 runs scored 
-27 hits
-8 doubles
-3 home runs
-21 RBI
-14 walks 
-14 strikeouts
-1 stolen base
-.365 batting Avg.
- .478 opposing batting %
-.595 slugging %
 
Now a quote from Coach Bauerle, " Eric made a huge impact with us in quite the little time he had. Transferred From UTRGV over the Christmas break. Stepped into the first base roll and made a big impact at the plate. Eric brings a big presence with him when he steps into the box and as a coach he's the guy you want at the plate when you need a ball in the gap or out of the park. watching the balls leave his bat are insane sometimes, when he can get full extension and barrel a ball, he's a dangerous hitter."
 
Most Valuable Player:  Ronnie Bailey Jr. 
- 22 games played
-  58 at bats
 -15 runs scores 
-21 hits 
-4 doubles 
-13 RBIs
-8 Walks 
-7 strike outs 
-2 stolen bases 
 
Opposing batting %: .439
Slugging %: .431
 
Coach Bauerle on this year's Team MVP, " Ronnie will be missed, He's a great guy and great team. First guy to the field, last one to leave. Always In the weight room for "Gains". A student of the game and a guy that was totally bought in. It was a pleasure being able to coach Ronnie and have him as a catcher. Watching him progress over the last two years has been exciting and  I'm excited for his future. He will make a positive impact anywhere he goes."
 
The Cougars started out the season ranked #11 and were ranked as high as #5 at the NJCAA Division III level.