CHICAGO, Ill. – Trinity Baseball was well represented as the CCAC announced its postseason awards on Thursday, with a total of seven Trolls being recognized as part of the 2024 All-CCAC Baseball Team.
Senior pitcher Jacob Hutcherson was Trinity's lone representative on the All-CCAC First Team, as the Winona Lake, Ind. native currently boasts a 3.89 ERA, third-best in the CCAC. Hutcherson also holds an 8-0 record on the year, with his eight victories good for second in the conference.
Hutcherson also joins junior third baseman Anthony Cappelletti on the CCAC Gold Glove Team; Trinity was one of just two teams to have multiple players earn spots on the Gold Glove Team.
One senior and three juniors and a sophomore were named to the All-CCAC Second Team, including senior shortstop Oliver Carmody. The Stevensville, Mich. native started all 53 games so far this season for the Trolls, and holds a team-high .330 batting average. Earlier this year, Carmody became Trinity's all-time hits leader, with 244 career base hits.
Also on the All-CCAC Second Team is first baseman/catcher Preston Moore. Moore earns his first career All-CCAC award after hitting for a .329 average, with 29 RBI and 11 extra-base hits on the year.
Sophomore catcher Connor Janik picked up his first All-CCAC honor, after posting a .419 batting average, second-highest in the conference this season. In 36 games played, Janik collected 12 doubles and four home runs, along with a team-best .620 slugging percentage.
Two other pitchers were recognized on the Second Team, as starting pitcher Christopher Nielsen earns All-CCAC honors for the first time. In his first season at Trinity, the Melbourne, Australia native posted a 7-1 record while holding batters to a .280 average. Nielsen also posted the team's most strikeouts, with 66 on the season, good for 3rd in the conference.
Trinity reliever Ulysses Munoz also earned All-CCAC Second Team honors, as the Trolls' closer holds nine saves so far on the year, most in the CCAC and 8th nationally in the NAIA.
The 2024 season has not yet finished for Trinity Baseball; the Trolls have been selected to return to the NCCAA Baseball World Series, held in Kansas City, Mo. beginning on May 18.
