ABCA and NJCAA Announce 2009 Players of the Year
June 4, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), in conjunction with the NJCAA, has selected its 2009 Players of the Year for all three divisions of play.
Young Harris College (Ga.) infielder Bryson Smith has been selected as the 2009 ABCA NJCAA Division I Baseball Player of the Year. Two-time First-Team NJCAA All-American Jake Astor from Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa, was tabbed the 2009 ABCA NJCAA Division II Baseball Player of the Year, while Brookdale Community College (N.J.) catcher Keith Weinkofsky was named the 2009 ABCA NJCAA Division III Baseball Player of the Year.
Smith, a sophomore from Watkinsville, Ga., earned a Rawlings Big Stick Award this season by posting the highest batting average (.467) in the East Central District. He ended 2009 ranked second in the Division I ranks in RBIs (90), third in home runs (21) and 13th in on-base percentage (.551). He was unanimously selected the Region 17 Player of the Year after breaking Young Harris school records for single season batting average and tying the school's mark for home runs. He also finished second in single season hits (99) and RBIs and was named a First-Team NJCAA DI All-American.
His play helped lead the Mountain Lions to a 44-12 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final NJCAA Division I Baseball Poll.
Smith will finish his collegiate baseball career at the University of Florida.
Astor, a sophomore first baseman from Liberty, Iowa, finished his second season with the DMACC Bears with a .444 batting average while ranking second in the nation in walks (51), fourth in RBIs (79) and eighth in on-base percentage (.574). Astor's 14 home runs tied for 11th best in NJCAA Division II this year. He earned First-Team All-Region 11 honors as well as being the No. 1 ranked player on the All-North Plains District team. He also was named a First-Team NJCAA All-American for the second consecutive season.
His stellar play helped lead DMACC to its second consecutive region and district title as well as their second appearance at the Division II World Series.
Astor will finish his collegiate baseball career at South Arkansas University.
Weinkofsky had a superb year for Brookdale in helping the school advance to the NJCAA Division III World Series for just the second time in program history. He led the DIII ranks with 17 home runs this season, which set a new school record, and finished the season ranked fourth in the nation with 57 RBIs, eighth with a .487 batting average and 14th with a .541 on-base percentage.
At the DIII World Series, he led the tournament with 11 RBIs, three home runs, nine runs scored, eight walks, 23 total bases and a 1.278 slugging percentage. He led Brookdale to a third place finish in the tournament and was selected to the All-Tournament team.
Weinkofsky was also selected to the NJCAA Division III Rawlings Gold Glove® team. As a catcher, he posted a .990 fielding percentage with 275 putouts, 21 assists and just three errors while allowing just nine stolen bases.
He is hoping to be selected in next week's MLB First-Year Player Draft. However, he is also considering continuing his collegiate career and is currently being recruited by several schools including Flagler College and Mount Olive College.
About the ABCA
The American Baseball Coaches Association is a nonprofit organization having more than 5,000 members, including baseball coaches from every state in the country and over 200 international members. The ABCA promotes camaraderie and rapport among all baseball coaches from the amateur to the professional levels. The organization also gives recognition to deserving players and coaches through several special awards and sponsorship programs. For more information visit www.abca.org.
Previous ABCA NJCAA Division I Players of the Year:
2008 - Joe Patterson, Seminole State College, Okla.
2007 - Doug Kroll, Iowa Western Community College
2006 - Steve Winkelmann, Neosho County Community College, Kan.
2005 - Michael Murray, Meridian Community College, Miss.
2004 - A.J. Johnson, Tallahassee Community College, Fla.
2003 - Nick Markakis, Young Harris College, Ga.
2002 - Cory Patton, Seward County Community College, Kan.
2001 - Wes Detwiler, Cowley County Community College, Kan.
Previous ABCA NJCAA Division II Players of the Year:
2008 - Juan Carlos Perez - Western Okla. State College
2007 - Tyler Moore, Meridian Community College, Miss.
2006 - Mike Wilson, Cecil College, Md.
2005 - Kyle Mills, Itawamba Community College, Miss.
2004 - Troy Moratti, Grand Rapids Community College, Mich.
2003 - Tim Dillard, Itawamba Community College, Miss.
2002 - Charles Anderson, Henry Ford Community College, Mich.
2001 - Braden Staranchuk, Grand Rapids Community College, Mich.
Previous ABCA NJCAA Division III Players of the Year:
2008 - Brandon Howard, Joliet Junior College, Ill.
2007 - Brock Lemire, Tyler Junior College, Texas
2006 - Ronny Hawley, Eastfield College, Texas
2005 - Tim Edmeads, Gloucester County College, N.J.
2004 - Trent Taylor, Richland College, Texas
2003 - Bart Hunton, Columbus State Community College, Ohio
2002 - John Allen, Richland College, Texas
2001 - Chris Meeks, Eastfield College, Texas
