BASEBALL

The Crossroads League has announced its 2019 baseball awards and headlining the news is HU junior Alex McCutcheon as the league’s Pitcher of the Year.

The HU ace currently boasts a 2.10 ERA and is holding opponents to a .195 batting average. To date, McCutcheon has pitched 73.0 innings, striking out 94 batters while surrendering 50 hits, a mere 22 runs and 28 walks.

As one of the Crossroads League’s most feared hurlers, McCutcheon carries a 9-2 record and ranks in the top three in the conference in eight different pitching categories which includes holding the top spot in batters struck out per game (11.59), total batters struck out (94) and wins (9).

In addition to garnering pitcher of the year accolades, McCutcheon (Huntington, Ind., Huntington North HS) also landed a spot on the All-Conference team in addition to earning Gold Glove honors. The southpaw turned in a .929 fielding percentage which included committing just two errors on the year.

Joining McCutcheon on the All-Conference team is senior Donovan Clark and sophomore Daniel Lichty.

One of the most dangerous baserunner in the NAIA, Clark leads the Crossroads League in stolen bases with 30. He averages a league-leading.769 stolen bases per game, the 3rd best percentage in the nation. His speed has also earned him the No. 5 spot in the CL in runs scored per game (0.90).

Clark (Fort Wayne, Ind., Southside HS) claims a .344 batting average, the 10th best in the league while his on base percentage of .431 is the 15th best in the conference. The HU centerfielder has pounded out 43 hits while driving in 11 runs.

Lichty leads the Foresters at the plate by topping the team in hits (46), RBI (30), total bases (65) and base on balls (25). His batting average of .341 is the 12th best in the league.

Among his league peers, he also ranks 3rd in triples (4), 7th in runs scored per game (0.85), 10th in RBI per game (0.75), 12th in on base percentage (.452), 15th in stolen bases per game (0.25), 16th in slugging percentage (.481), 17th in hits per game (1.15) and 18th in total bases per game (1.62).

Playing the hot spot for Huntington, Lichty (Denfield, ONT, London HS) was tagged the league’s Gold Glove at third base with his .908 fielding percentage. He has racked up 75 assists while committing 11 errors on the season.

Gustavo Bonilla (Juncos, PR, Edison CC) was also named to the Gold Glove Team for his work behind the plate. The sophomore catcher committed just two errors on the year for a .992 fielding percentage. He ranks 2nd in the league in chances per game (7.28) and putouts per game (6.72).

The Foresters also landed three players on the Honorable Mention Team in Mason Shinabery, Ian McCutcheon and Satchell Wilson.

For Shinabery, it’s his second CL honor as he was named All-Conference his rookie year. The right-hander has collected five wins this season to go along with two saves. He has thrown 62.1 innings during which he has given up 61 hits and 41 runs, 32 of the earned variety, and 28 walks while striking out 68.

Shinabery’s ERA on the year is 4.62. The Decatur native (Bellmont HS) has limited opponents to a .276 batting average. He currently ranks in the top 15 in the conference in seven different pitching categories highlighted by holding the No. 5 spot in batters struck out (68) and the No. 7 spot in hits allowed per game (8.81).

As HU’s starting second baseman, freshman Ian McCutcheon’s impact has been immediate. The Huntington native (Huntington North HS) has secured 40 hits, which includes a team-leading nine doubles, so far this season. He has knocked in 21 runs and scored 19 times.

Wilson (Anderson, Ind., Lapel HS) also had an outstanding rookie year to claim his spot on the HM team by posting 34 hits and driving in 18 runs. He has scored 22 runs and is third on the team in total bases with 55.

Coach Frame was honored by the league as the Coach of the Year as voted on by the other CL coaches. It’s the seventh time he’s received this honor. Over his 35-year career, his teams have won 17 conference titles.

The Foresters (26-14) are headed to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round for the second time in three years. Opening Round is slated for May 13-16.