SLIAC Places 12 On ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team

For the second consecutive year, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has placed 12 players on the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region Central Team. Unlike last year, however, this year the SLIAC is well-represented on the First Team with seven players earning highest honors in the region.

Webster University's Josh Fleming headlines this year's class, earning not only First Team All-Region honors but being named the Central Region Pitcher of the Year as well. Fleming, a junior at Webster University, was the 2017 SLIAC Pitcher of the Year and was 8-1 on the mound this spring with a 0.67 earned-run average and 115 strikeouts. Also joining Fleming on the First Team was his teammate Kyle Uhrich. Uhrich was named as a utility player after hitting .288 this year with six home runs and 30 runs batted in while also going 7-3 as a pitcher with a 2.29 earned-run average and averaging 13.73 strikeouts per game.

Spalding University placed the most players on this year's All-Region team, with four representatives. Pitcher Jimi Keating led the way, earning First Team honors after finishing with an 11-2 record, holding a 1.62 earned-run average and striking out 124 batters over 100 innings. He averaged 11.16 strikeouts per game and walked just 10 batters this spring while holding opposing hitters to a .186 batting average. Kam Bruner, Blake Patterson, and Kyle Olliges all were named Second Team All-Region. Bruner, a senior first baseman, hit .386 with seven home runs and 43 runs batted in. Patterson, a senior infielder, hit .331 with seven home runs and 36 runs batted in. Olliges teamed with Keating to give the Golden Eagles one of the top pitching duos in the nation. Olliges finished 9-3 with a 2.81 earned-run average, striking out 109 batters.

Greenville College placed two players on the First Team, with Jesse Getz and Travis Ralls receiving recognition for their outstanding seasons. Ralls, a junior catcher, hit .384 this year with nine home runs and 45 runs batted in while being named the conference Player of the Year. Jesse Getz, a junior shortstop, led the team with a .405 average while hitting nine home runs with 42 runs batted in and swiping 17 bases.

Westminster College had two members appear on the First Team All-Region; Tanner Branneky and Blake Strebler. Branneky, a senior outfielder, capped his career by hitting .414 with nine home runs and 35 runs batted in; finishing as the Blue Jays career leader in home runs. Strebler, a junior second baseman, hit .402 with six home runs and 33 runs batted in.

Fontbonne University also had two players earn All-Region honors; Ethan Boyer and Ben Greenway. Boyer, a senior outfielder, led the Griffins with a .390 average, hitting six home runs with 38 runs batted in and stealing 23 bases while picking up Second Team honors. Greenway, a senior designated hitter, hit .389 with five home runs and 41 runs batted win while being named to the Third Team.