SALUQIS BASEBALL PLAYERS HONORED
BY TJCCAA
Four Southwest baseball players were recently selected to the
all-conference team by the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic
Association. Sophomore catcher Nick Smith and freshman centerfielder Chris
Rogers were voted by the coaches to the first team, while sophomore pitcher
Drew Buford was named to the second team and sophomore pitcher-outfielder
Josh Meeker to the third team. In addition, the Tennessee Baseball Report
named three Saluqis to its All-TJCCAA team. Smith and Buford were first
team selections, while Rogers was a second team pick.
Smith, the Saluqis' leading hitter on the season with a .440 batting average
and 10 home runs, has broken many school records this season, including
single season records for hits (84), doubles (31), runs batted in (74), and
total bases (147). Smith has also set new career records for games played
(114), hits (140), runs batted in (128), doubles (46), home runs (19), and
total bases (249).
Rogers, one of the top defensive
centerfielders in the conference, is batting .356 with 24 doubles, four home
runs, and a team-leading 22 stolen bases. Buford leads the Saluqi pitching
staff with a 1.64 earned run average and has allowed opponents to bat only
.198 against him. He has also set new school records for saves in a season
with 14 and in a career with 20. Meeker is batting .353 on the season with
eight doubles, one home run, 27 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. He leads the
conference with an amazing 12 outfield assists, and has a 9-1 pitching
record.
