GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Christopher Newport rookie
Jay Cassady made history on Tuesday afternoon as he became the first freshman in CNU Baseball history to earn ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honors. Cassady, a Utility player from Burke, Va., was selected to the South All-Region third team.
The rookie's selection extends a five-year streak with at least one Captain represented on the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region teams. The awards are selected across eight regions and are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Setting a new starndard for success as a freshman, Cassady also became just the second offensive player in program history to garner Conference Rookie of the Year plaudits. He was a second team All-Conference selection at first base and earned the All-Region designation as a Utility player -- he started 22 games at first base and eight games on the mound.
Cassady pieced together one of the finest first year performances in program history offensively, scorching opposing pitching to the tune of team-leading .358/.632/.466 slash line. He tied a freshman record with a 14-game hitting streak during the season which was also the longest run of the year for any CNU player. He reached base in 20 straight games to end the year and will carry that streak into his sophomore season.
Offensively, he led the way for the Captains in the middle of the lineup, ranking second on the team in RBI with 29 and tied for first in HR with four. He blistered 12 doubles, and finished the season with 17 extra-base hits in 27 games played. He smashed a pair of home runs in a game against Mary Washington and later in the year added a three-hit, five RBI contest against Southern Virginia.
The rookie sensation started the season playing either first base or pitcher but by midseason, his red-hot bat forced him into the lineup even on days where he toed the rubber. His first pitching appearance came out of the pen, saving an 8-7 win at Roanoke in his collegiate debut. He then struck out eight against Virginia Wesleyan in his first career start ten days later. In eight starts, Cassady faced four nationally-ranked opponents and was most notably impressive in a seven-strikeout win against then No. 17 N.C. Wesleyan. He allowed only three hits and one run over 5.0 strong innings against the Bishops for his first career win. He finished the season with two wins, one save, and a 4.23 ERA while striking out 50 batters in 44.2 innings pitched.
Defensively, Cassady committed only two errors at first base and registered a .988 fielding percentage in 161 total chances.
Christopher Newport reached the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Championship Series against nationally-ranked Salisbury before closing out the season with a 22-12 overall record.
| 2021 South ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Teams |
| NCAA Div. III South All-Region First Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Brad Pennington |
Sr. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
NC |
| 1B |
Tyler Calvert |
Sr. |
Berry |
GA |
| 2B |
Colby Martin |
Fr. |
Shenandoah |
VA |
| 3B |
Joe Ruth |
So. |
LaGrange |
GA |
| SS |
Frankie Ritter |
So. |
Shenandoah |
VA |
| OF |
Justin Meekins |
Sr. |
Salisbury |
MD |
| OF |
Avery Neaves |
So. |
Lynchburg |
VA |
| OF |
Cole Steadman |
Sr. |
Birmingham-Southern |
AL |
| OF |
Zack Walch |
Sr. |
Berry |
GA |
| DH |
Carter Plunkett |
So. |
Roanoke |
VA |
| UT |
Kinston Carson |
Sr. |
Lynchburg |
VA |
| P |
Jackson Balzan |
So. |
Salisbury |
MD |
| P |
Sam Carpenter |
Sr. |
Piedmont |
GA |
| P |
Clayton Dwyer |
Sr. |
Salisbury |
MD |
| P |
Brandon Pond |
Jr. |
Lynchburg |
VA |
|
| NCAA Div. III South All-Region Second Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Chris Penna |
Jr. |
Rhodes |
TN |
| 1B |
Keegan Woolford |
Sr. |
Shenandoah |
VA |
| 2B |
Jack Bartlewski |
Sr. |
Piedmont |
GA |
| 3B |
Pearce Bucher |
So. |
Shenandoah |
VA |
| SS |
Cael Chatham |
So. |
LaGrange |
GA |
| OF |
Kavi Caster |
So. |
Salisbury |
MD |
| OF |
McKinley Erves |
Jr. |
LaGrange |
GA |
| OF |
Ethan Iannuzzi |
So. |
Randolph-Macon |
VA |
| OF |
Jaylon Lee |
Sr. |
Eastern Mennonite |
VA |
| OF |
Rob Wilkerson |
Sr. |
Methodist |
NC |
| DH |
Spence Johns |
Sr. |
Berry |
GA |
| UT |
Carter Ballstadt |
Jr. |
Piedmont |
GA |
| P |
Derrick Carter |
Sr. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
NC |
| P |
Nick Ferazzi |
So. |
Rhodes |
TN |
| P |
Andy Hammond |
Sr. |
Birmingham-Southern |
AL |
| P |
Zack Potts |
So. |
Lynchburg |
VA |
| P |
Grayson Thurman |
Sr. |
Lynchburg |
VA |
|
| NCAA Div. III South All-Region Third Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Will Evans |
Sr. |
Birmingham-Southern |
AL |
| C |
Jacob Selden |
Sr. |
Randolph-Macon |
VA |
| 1B |
Tyshawn Barrett |
Sr. |
William Peace |
NC |
| 1B |
Drew Love |
Sr. |
Birmingham-Southern |
VA |
| SS |
Michael Garvey Jr. |
Sr. |
Greensboro |
NC |
| OF |
Jarret Biesecker |
Jr. |
Bridgewater |
VA |
| OF |
Ian Campbell |
Jr. |
Maryville |
TN |
| OF |
Josh Greenway |
Sr. |
Ferrum |
VA |
| OF |
David Lambertson |
Sr. |
Mary Washington |
VA |
| OF |
Jack Layrisson |
Jr. |
LaGrange |
GA |
| DH |
EJ Churchich |
Sr. |
LaGrange |
GA |
| DH |
Chandler Kezele |
Sr. |
Emory & Henry |
VA |
| UT |
Jay Cassady |
Fr. |
Christopher Newport |
VA |
| P |
Mason Carnes |
So. |
Berry |
GA |
| P |
Baley Coleman |
So. |
LaGrange |
GA |
| P |
Ben Coker |
Sr. |
Berry |
GA |
| P |
Tristan Harvin |
Sr. |
Birmingham-Southern |
AL |
| P |
Xavier Marmol |
Jr. |
Salisbury |
MD |
|
| Position Player of the Year: Colby Martin, Fr., Shenandoah |
| Pitcher of the Year: Clayton Dwyer, Sr., Salisbury |
