BLINN BASEBALL LANDS SEVEN ON THE ALL REGION XIV SOUTH ZONE FIRST TEAM

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The third-ranked Blinn College baseball team earned widespread recognition when the Region 14 All-South awards were announced Monday, highlighted by seven first-team selections and another top honor for its head coach.

Sophomore pitchers Dylan Thompson and Ben Polleschultz headlined a dominant group of pitching honorees.

Thompson, in his first season with the Buccaneers, went 6-0 in South play across eight appearances (seven starts) while posting a 2.51 earned run average. He totaled 42 strikeouts over 43 innings.

Polleschultz, a second-year Buc, earned first-team All-South honors for the second consecutive season. He finished 1-0 with 23 strikeouts in 19 innings over six appearances (two starts) against South competition.

Sophomore Hudson Melaerts also secured first-team recognition for the first time in his career. In his second season at Blinn, Melaerts recorded four saves and a 2.13 ERA across 10 appearances, striking out 24 batters in 12 2/3 innings.

Redshirt freshman Marc Barnhard joined the first-team list after a strong showing on the mound. He went 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 14 innings over seven appearances in South play.

Blinn’s offense was equally well represented.

Sophomore infielder Drew Britton earned his first All-South honor after a standout campaign. In 33 games against South opponents, he hit .364 with a .503 on-base percentage (OBP), tallying four home runs, 10 doubles, a triple, and a team-best 37 runs batted in.

Sophomore infielder Hunter Smolinski, in his first season with the program, hit .357 with a .448 OBP in 32 South contests. He added six home runs, seven doubles, and 25 RBIs.

Freshman catcher Zachary Tuxhorn emerged as one of the conference’s top hitters, earning first-team honors after batting a team-high .404 in 33 South games. He also posted a team-best .554 OBP while contributing six home runs, nine doubles, and 31 RBIs.

Blinn also placed five players on the All-South second team, including redshirt freshman pitchers Luke Ekdall and Travis Minard, freshman third baseman Ryley Leininger, sophomore outfielder Kason Atkins, and freshman outfielder Dane Perry.

At the helm, head coach Dusty Hart was named the South Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. Hart guided the Buccaneers to a 40-12 overall record and a 28-7 mark in Region 14 South play, securing the program’s fourth South regular-season title in as many seasons.