Clarksville, Ark.- Seven University of the Ozarks baseball players were honored by the American Southwest Conference, it was announced Monday (May 16) following a vote of the league's head coaches.
Junior outfielder Dru Didway was named to the All-ASC First Team. Junior outfielder Rennie Arjona and senior designated hitter Alex Ray were named to the All-ASC Second Team. Junior utility player Trey Vance was named to the All-ASC Third Team. The All-ASC Honorable Mention Team included senior second baseman Luke Morrison, senior shortstop Ben Cross and senior starting pitcher Blake Benson.
Didway, a native of Sallisaw, Okla., led the team in home runs (9), RBI (38), slugging percentage (.638) and total bases (83) while hitting .369 with 32 runs and 48 hits. He also recorded eight doubles and drew 16 walks. He owned a .457 on-base percentage. Didway, a left-handed hitter, hit safely in 28 of 37 games and finished the season on a nine-game hit streak. He had 15 multiple-hit games, including a 4-for-5 effort against Howard Payne. He had three different four-RBI games during the season. In game three against Belhaven, Didway, went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three runs and four RBI. He scored at least two runs against ten different opponents. He hit a grand slam against McMurry. He was named ASC Hitter of the Week three times.
Arjona, a native of Panama, tied for third in the ASC with 60 hits. He batted .385, second-highest on the team, while recording eight doubles, three triples and two home runs. He led the team in stolen bases (10) and runs (41). He owned a .513 slugging percentage and a .417 on-base percentage. He drove in 28 runs. He did not commit an error to own a 1.000 fielding percentage. He hit safely in 30 of 35 games and ended the season on an 11-game hit streak. He accumulated 20 multiple-hit games, including eight three-hit games. In game one against LeTourneau, he went 3-for-5 with three runs, a homer and five RBI. He scored two or more runs 13 times. This is his second All-Conference honor of his career.
Ray, a native of Franklin, Tenn., led the team with a .390 batting average, ranking him among the top-10 ASC hitters. Ray tied for the team-lead in doubles with nine and drove in 33 runs, second-most on the team. He finished the season with two home runs, 48 hits, 17 walks, 63 total bases and owned a .512 slugging percentage. He posted a team-best .472 on-base percentage. He had two four-hit games, four three-hit games and seven two-hit games. He went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and four RBI against Mary Hardin-Baylor. Later in the season, he went 4-for-5 with four RBI in a conference game. He was also a perfect 4-for-4 against Belhaven.
Vance, a native of Fayetteville, hit .289 in 30 games at different infield positions. He totaled seven doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. He collected 33 hits and owned a .430 slugging percentage. He finished with ten two-hit games. Against LeTourneau, he went 3-for-5 with four RBI. He is a two-time All-Conference performer.
Morrison, a native of Tucson, Ariz., hit .298 with nine doubles, three triples, one home run and 24 RBI. He totaled 45 hits and 30 runs while owning a .417 slugging percentage. He led the team with five sacrifice fly outs and also had eight steals. He hit safely in 28 of 37 games. He had five three-games and totaled 12 multiple-hit games. He scored at least two runs in nine different games. Against Sul Ross, he went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBI. He ranks third at Ozarks in career triples with seven. He is a two-time All-Conference performer.
Cross, a native of Sherman, Texas, hit .287 with eight doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 28 RBI. He recorded 73 total bases to own a .537 slugging percentage. He posted a .399 on-base percentage. He also scored 35 runs and collected 39 hits. He recorded 12 multiple-hit games. Against Belhaven, he went 3-for-5 with three runs, two home runs and five RBI. He is a two-time All-Conference performer.
Benson, a native of Springdale, Ark., posted a 5-4 record with a 5.20 ERA in 62.1 innings of work. Benson, left-hander, led the pitching staff in nearly every category, including strikeouts (70) and complete games (4). He had a season-high nine strikeouts against two opponents. In three outings, he did not allow an earned run. Against Mary Hardin-Baylor, he threw a complete game scattering four hits, no walks, striking out six and not allowing an earned run. He earned ASC Pitcher of the Week twice during the season. He ends his career ranked among the program's top-10 in ERA (4.41), wins (13), games started (34), innings pitched (191.2) and strikeouts (168). He is a two-time All-Conference performer.
