Jack Merrifield claims DII Defensive Player of the Year
Charlotte, NC - LSU-Eunice (LA) sophomore infielder Jack Merrifield has been named the 2021 NJCAA DII Baseball Defensive Player of the Year, presented by the Marines.
Merrifield was solid all season for the Bengals at second base, starting an impressive 57 games and boasting a .987 fielding percentage. He also had a hand in 32 double plays and collected 105 putouts.
While also being a strong player in the field, Merrifield was also a solid hitter in the middle of the Bengal lineup. He finished the season with a .396 AVG, 76 hits, and 68 RBI.
The sophomore second-baseman helped contribute to a successful season for the Bengals, which saw them take home their seventh title in the past 15 seasons. He led the team in games started, claiming second base in 57 of the 58 games LSU-Eunice played. Merrifield's spectacular season helped contribute to a well-deserved list of accolades, including being named an NJCAA Division II Baseball Second-Team All-American, and also receiving a 2021 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award.
Head coach Jeff Willis on Merrifield: "Very proud of Jack and the leadership he brought to our team day in and day out. There are very few players in the history of our program that played with the energy he does as he makes everyone around him better. We watched clutch play after clutch play by him and we certainly do not win a National Championship without him!"
Personal Profile
- Position: Second Base
- Class: Sophomore
- Hometown: Prairieville, LA
2020-21 Statistics
- 57 Starts
- .987 Fielding Percentage
- 105 Putouts
- 32 Double Play assists
- .396 Batting Average
- 76 Hits
- 68 RBI
2020-21 Accomplishments
- 2021 NJCAA DII Baseball Second-Team All-American
- 2021 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award winner
