MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - With the collegiate baseball season coming to a close, the awards are rolling in for Middle Tennessee baseball's promising group of newcomers ready to join the program next year. Several future Blue Raiders excelled in their final seasons at their respective schools.
From the junior college ranks, third baseman Jake Ingold (Lincoln Land Community College) earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America Second Team honors this year, following up his first-team selection from 2012. He also was selected to the All-Region 24 First Team for a second consecutive year.
Righthander Matt Blackham (Johnson County Community College) was named to the All-Jayhawk League Second Team and listed as the No. 85 junior college prospect by the Perfect Game, while outfielder Jared Allen (Walters State Community College) was named to the All-Tennessee Junior College First Team. Allen also tied a 29-year old Junior College World Series record with a 6-for-6 performance against top-ranked Spartanburg.
In addition to the junior college level, several signees at the high school level produced outstanding senior seasons. Catcher Thomas Miller (Elizabethton High School), righthander/infielder Will Small (Holy Innocents Episcopal School) and catcher Will Schnure (Mt. Paran Christian High School) were each named first-team all-region, with Schnure also earning a spot on the Georgia Dugout Club Team, which recognizes the top 20 players in the state.
Righty Caleb Smith (Lincoln County High School) took home first-team all-district honors, while and lefty Kevin Dupree (Ooltewah High School) made the All-Chattanooga Team.
Righthander/outfielder Kaleb King (St. Louis University HS) was selected to the All-Metro Conference First Team as a utility player from the St. Louis, MO area.
