Patton earns Spot on 2018 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. III West All-Region Team
GREENSBORO, N.C. – On Tuesday the 2018 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region teams and Regional Players of the Year were announced in all eight regions. The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA DIII All-America Committee.
Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) was selected for the West All-Region Third Team for third base. He was one-of-two players at the hot corner selected, and was one-of-six sophomores in the entire region voted on the team.
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It his first time receiving the honor and first time a member of the Crusaders has been named since Trevor Keele in 2013 as a first baseman.
Patton continues to garner multiple postseason accolades after notching a career season at the plate for UD. He also has been tabbed Team MVP, First Team SCAC All-Conference, and USCAA All-American First Team.
Patton boasted career-best numbers offensively headlined by the highest batting average (.450) in the SCAC (7th in the USCAA). Patton's 43 RBI rank in the top-five in both conferences (2nd – USCAA) (3rd – SCAC). The third baseman also led the squad in doubles (13) and hits (63). He was two base knocks shy of tying the school single-season record. He did string together a 12-game hit streak and reached base safely via a hit during the last 10 games of the campaign.
In two seasons Patton has eclipsed 100 hits (102) and posted a hit in all-but four appearances in 38-game spring that saw him start each day on the diamond. Patton's final slash line was .450/.600.521, and he ranked atop the team in total bases with 84.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 9,600 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.
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