HART, QUINTANAR EARN TOP REGION XIV SOUTH RECOGNITION AS NO. 5 BLINN BASEBALL RAKES IN HONORS

Hart was named the South Coach of the Year for a third time while Quintanar was the South Hitter of the Year

The Blinn College baseball team raked in the Region XIV all-South awards Monday.

Head coach Dusty Hart was named the South’s Coach of the Year, sophomore catcher Matt Quintanar was named the South Hitter of the Year, and starting pitchers Brok Eddy, Hayden Morris, and Ben Polleschultz, relief pitcher Hunter Bond, first baseman Caden Ferraro, and outfielder Bennett Fryman earned first-team recognition. Cadyn Shaw landed on the second-team as a relief pitcher.

One season after winning the NJCAA Divison I Baseball World Series for the first time in program history, Hart has led the Bucs to a 40-12 overall record and the Region XIV South regular-season title behind a 28-7 mark. Blinn has won the South in back-to-back-to-back seasons and will host the Region XIV South Regional Tournament for the third time in as many seasons beginning Thursday in Brenham, Texas. Hart has won the South’s top coaching award in each of his three seasons with the Bucs.

Quintanar is the third consecutive Blinn hitter to earn the South’s Player of the Year award, following in the steps of Tanner Reaves (2023) and Connor McGinnis (2024). The Texas Tech University commit has anchored a talented lineup this season with a team-high .423 batting average, a .527 on-base percentage (OBP), a team-best 77 hits and 21 doubles, nine home runs, and 51 RBIs. He is also a nifty team-best 9 for 9 when stealing bases. Against South competition, Quintanar hit at a .479 clip with a .581 OBP, 57 hits, 14 doubles, eight homers, and 39 RBIs.

Eddy, a Wichita State University commit, boasts a 9-3 record, a 2.04 earned run average (ERA), and 67 strikeouts across 66 1/3 innings this season. The righty has gone at least five innings in all but three of his 13 starts and has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his appearances with five scoreless outings and one no-hitter. Against the South, Eddy posted a 5-2 record with a 1.48 ERA and 40 punchouts in 42 2/3 innings. 

Morris is currently working on a perfect record as he’s produced an 8-0 mark this season. The hard-throwing right-hander owns a 3.36 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 69 2/3 frames, and also has a no-hitter on his resume. Morris’ numbers against the South were equally as impressive as he went 6-0 with a 3.28 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 49 1/3 frames.

The left-handed Polleschultz has emerged as a reliable starter this season after beginning his year in the Bucs’ bullpen. He is 5-0 overall with a 4.02 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and one save in 40 1/3 innings. All five of his wins and his save came against South foes, and he added a 2.02 ERA and 40 punchouts in 35 2/3 frames.

Bond, who has committed to Texas A&M University, has been stellar out of the Blinn bullpen one season after missing the 2024 campaign with an injury. The lefty is 3-1 with three saves and 37 strikeouts across 22 innings and owns a 1.64 ERA. In South play, Bond is 1-1 with a pair of saves and 16 strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings in 10 appearances. He gave up one unearned run against South opponents.

Ferraro, who is also headed to Texas Tech this fall, has produced another big season for Blinn following a stellar freshman debut. The left-handed slugger is batting .371 with team highs in homers (15) and RBIs (60) to go with 14 doubles and one triple. He has also drawn 45 walks to boost a .507 OBP. In South play, Ferraro hit .339 with six doubles, nine longballs, and 36 RBIs. Ferraro is a two-time first-team selection.

Fryman, who is committed to Texas State University, is batting .369 this spring with 10 doubles, 11 homers, 53 RBIs, and a .507 OBP. He was especially lethal against the South with a .393 average, eight doubles and eight homers, and 38 runs driven in.

Shaw is 5-1 this season with a 4.46 ERA, 41 punchouts, and a pair of saves in 40 1/3 innings. He went 4-0 against South foes and fanned 27 hitters in 28 1/3 innings.

Head coaches from the Region XIV North and South divisions will vote on all-region teams and announce honorees this week.

Story Courtesy of:
Joe Alberico   
Blinn Sports Information Specialist