2016 NAIA Baseball All-Americans Announced
By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2016 Baseball All-America Teams as selected by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association All-America Committee. National Player of the Year Manny DeLeon of Tabor (Kan.) headlines the group of 34 individuals named to the first and second team. An additional 34 student-athletes received honorable mention recognition.
The first and second teams are also recognized as ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods. The ABCA began recognizing All-Americans in 1949 and named the first ABCA NAIA All-America team in 1969.
DeLeon, who was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Player of the Year early this spring, ended the year leading the NAIA in total bases (208), RBI (108) and slugging percentage (.897). The senior from San Cristobal, D.R., played a key role in the Bluejays’ (45-18) sixth-straight 40-win season and at least a share of a fifth-straight KCAC regular-season title. Tabor reached the title game of the Hutchinson Opening Round Bracket, but was eliminated by Science & Arts (Okla.).
In addition to his national rankings, DeLeon paced the team with a .440 batting average (102-for-232), 25 home runs, 25 doubles, 30 walks, a .515 on-base percentage and 25 stolen bases. The centerfielder posted 34 multi-hit games this season with 62 appearances. Defensively, DeLeon recorded 89 putouts and had three assists.
Georgia Gwinnett led all institutions with three All-Americans – Josh Merrigan (First Team outfielder), Davis Adkins (First Team relief pitcher) and Zac Rinehart (Second Team first baseman).
Scott Morton of Briar Cliff (Iowa), Yariel Gonzalez of Science & Arts (Okla.) and Keivan Berges of Keiser (Fla.) are repeat selections. Gonzales and Berges were both on the First Team in 2015, while Morton was a Second Teamer. All three individuals are on the First Team this year.
2016 NAIA Baseball All-Americans
First Team
| Pos. |
First |
Last |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| C |
Scott |
Morton% |
Sr. |
Briar Cliff (Iowa) |
Ventura, Calif. |
| C |
Brian |
Hakes |
Sr. |
Indiana Tech |
Decatur, Ind. |
| 1B |
Peyton |
Deiters |
Jr. |
Kansas Wesleyan |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| 2B |
Jalin |
Lawson |
Jr. |
Central Baptist (Ark.) |
Troy, Ala. |
| SS |
Jose |
Rojas |
Sr. |
Vanguard (Calif.) |
Anaheim, Calif. |
| 3B |
Yariel |
Gonzalez^ |
Sr. |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
San Sebastian, P.R. |
| INF |
Alex |
Montero |
Sr. |
LSU Shreveport (La.) |
Conovanas, P.R. |
| DH |
Keivan |
Berges^ |
Jr. |
Keiser (Fla.) |
Wellington, Fla. |
| OF |
Manny |
DeLeon* |
Sr. |
Tabor (Kan.) |
San Cristobal, D.R. |
| OF |
Travis |
Bolin |
Jr. |
Davenport (Mich.) |
Watervliet, Mich. |
| OF |
Jordan |
Eckley |
Sr. |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
Lee’s Summit, Mo. |
| OF |
Josh |
Merrigan |
Sr. |
Georgia Gwinnett |
Marietta, Ga. |
| SP |
Sean |
Isaac |
Sr. |
Vanguard (Calif.) |
Redondo Beach, Calif. |
| SP |
Jordan |
Watson |
Jr. |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
Edmond, Okla. |
| SP |
Ryan |
Hartman |
Sr. |
Tennessee Wesleyan |
Anaheim, Calif. |
| SP |
Mark |
Vasquez |
Sr. |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
Spring Valley, Calif. |
| RP |
Davis |
Adkins |
Sr. |
Georgia Gwinnett |
Cordell, Ga. |
Second Team
| Pos. |
First |
Last |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| C |
Trent |
Simpson |
Sr. |
IU Southeast (Ind.) |
Gentryville, Ind. |
| C |
Andy |
Mocahbee |
Jr. |
Middle Georgia State |
Calhoun, Ga. |
| 1B |
Zac |
Rinehart |
Sr. |
Georgia Gwinnett |
Snellville, Ga. |
| 2B |
Michael |
Johnson |
Sr. |
York (Neb.) |
Union City, Calif. |
| SS |
Alex |
Colegrove |
Sr. |
Briar Cliff (Iowa) |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
| 3B |
Beau |
Kallas |
Sr. |
Sterling (Kan.) |
Draper, Utah |
| INF |
Gregg |
Veneklasen |
So. |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
Amarillo, Texas |
| DH |
JJ |
Robinson |
Jr. |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
Colfax, Wash. |
| OF |
Javion |
Randle |
Sr. |
Jarvis Christian (Texas) |
Houston, Texas |
| OF |
Kendall |
Radcliffe |
Jr. |
Sterling (Kan.) |
Chicago, Ill. |
| OF |
Dylan |
Steyer |
Sr. |
Midland (Neb.) |
Omaha, Neb. |
| OF |
Andrew |
Gross |
Sr. |
Houston-Victoria (Texas) |
Alvin, Texas |
| SP |
Brandon |
Guske |
Jr. |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
Spring Hill, Tenn. |
| SP |
Alsis |
Herrera |
Sr. |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
San Juan, D.R. |
| SP |
Ben |
McKendall |
Jr. |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| SP |
Alex |
Webb |
Sr. |
British Columbia |
Surrey, B.C. |
| RP |
Jake |
Pannunzio |
Sr. |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
Sunrise Beach, Australia |
*2016 National Player of the Year
^ 2015 First Team All-American
% 2015 Second Team All-American
Honorable Mention
| Name |
School |
| Jed Carter |
Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) |
| Gadier Charriez |
Bethel (Tenn.) |
| Curtis Taylor |
British Columbia |
| Brad Cuyos |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
| Joba Ferrell |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
| Trey Haygood |
Georgia Gwinnett |
| Landon Uetz |
Jamestown (N.D.) |
| Tanner Dahl |
Jamestown (N.D.) |
| Steven Bruce |
Keiser (Fla.) |
| Jacob Zanon |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
| Luis Anguizola |
Loyola (La.) |
| Johno Rodriguez |
Madonna (Mich.) |
| Dylan Hatch |
Marymount (Calif.) |
| Jason Jones |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
| Chris Rich |
Middle Georgia State |
| Brian Poupore |
Missouri Baptist |
| Nathan DeChaine |
Morningside (Iowa) |
| Lucas Daugherty |
Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) |
| Jon Bobea |
Northwestern Ohio |
| John Schreiber |
Northwestern Ohio |
| Jared Baker |
Oklahoma City |
| Trevor Achenbach |
Oklahoma Wesleyan |
| Jake Horew |
Point Park (Pa.) |
| Dillon White |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
| Cesar Figuereo |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
| Chris Mattison |
Southeastern (Fla.) |
| Alfredo Bohorquez |
St. Catharine (Ky.) |
| Kade Wagner |
Sterling (Kan.) |
| Ryan Pope |
Sterling (Kan.) |
| Michael Baca |
Tabor (Kan.) |
| Lincoln Reed |
Taylor (Ind.) |
| Thomas Estopare |
USC Beaufort (S.C.) |
| Daniel Butler |
Westmont (Calif.) |
| Billy Johnson |
York (Neb.) |