Janek named to ABCA All-Region first team
6/11/2024 2:44:00 PM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE – The 2024 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Region Teams were announced in all eight regions on Tuesday with Sam Houston catcher Walker Janek named to the All-Central Region first team.Â
The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-America teams will be announced the morning of Friday, June 14 prior to the start of the 2024 NCAA Div. I College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. First Team All-Region selections are eligible for All-America honors.Â
The award is another in a long list of accolades for the Bearkat backstop in 2024. The junior from Portland hit .368 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI for the Kats this season, while throwing out 16 of 31 attempted base stealers. Â
He was named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year and most recently one of three finalists for the Buster Posey Award honoring the top catcher in college baseball. Other honors include being a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.Â
The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee.Â
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Tommy Raffo. The committee also includes Mitch Canham (Oregon State University), Dean Ehehalt (Monmouth University), Brian Green (Wichita State University), Jeff Mercer (Indiana University), Brian O'Connor (University of Virginia), Jim Penders (University of Connecticut), and Butch Thompson (Auburn University).Â
The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winners in all divisions will be announced on Wednesday, June 19. ABCA/Rawlings National Pitchers and Position Players of the Year will be announced on Monday, June 24.Â
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.   Â
