Eight BIG EAST Players Named ABCA All-Region
GREENSBORO, N.C. – On June 13, the American Baseball Coaches Association announced the 2018 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Region teams in all eight regions. Eight BIG EAST players from four schools, Butler, Creighton, St. John’s and Xavier were selected, voted on by members of the ABCA and the Division I All-America Committee.
ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans will be announced on Saturday, June 16. The finalists for the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I Gold Glove Team will be announced on Twitter on Monday, June 18, and the Gold Glove Teams will be announced on Wednesday, June 20.
The BIG EAST had three first team honorees, two from St. John’s, the BIG EAST regular season and tournament champions. The Red Storm’s players on the first team included sophomore right-handed pitcher Sean Mooney and junior second baseman Josh Shaw. Creighton senior righty Ryan Tapani also earned first team accolades.
Second team accolades went to St. John’s senior outfielder Jamie Galazin and BIG EAST Player of the Year St. John’s third baseman John Valente, Butler sophomore righty pitcher Ryan Pepiot, Creighton sophomore outfielder Will Robertson and Xavier junior shortstop Chris Givin.
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Tommy Raffo of Arkansas State University. Also on the committee is Dean Ehehalt of Monmouth University, Brian O'Connor of the University of Virginia, Butch Thompson of Auburn University, Jim Penders of the University of Connecticut, Steve Jaksa of Central Michigan University, Dan Heefner of Dallas Baptist University and George Horton of the University of Oregon.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 9,600 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 75th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 3-6, 2019 in Dallas, Texas.
For the full list of All Region honorees click
here.
2018 BIG EAST ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team Honorees
Sean Mooney, St. John’s, So., RHP (Northeast Region)
Josh Shaw, St. John’s, Jr., 2B (Northeast Region)
Ryan Tapani, Creighton, Sr., RHP (Midwest Region)
2018 BIG EAST ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team Honorees
Jamie Galazin, St. John’s, Sr., OF (Northeast Region)
Chris Givin, Xavier, Jr., SS (Mideast Region)
Ryan Pepiot, Butler, So., RHP (Mideast Region)
Will Robertson, Creighton, So., OF (Midwest Region)
John Valente, St. John’s, Grad Student, 3B (Northeast Region)