GREENSBORO, N.C. – Three Spartans earned American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Atlantic All-Region honors. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC), L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College), and Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) were selected to the squad.
Spitznagel earned First Team honors at second base, while Kalawaia and Stewart were Second Team selections. Spitznagel held a .385 batting average this season with 21 stolen bases. Hitting as the lead off batter in 53 games, the Second Team All-Southern Conference selection hit 14 doubles, two triples and a home run, while scoring 61 runs.
Kalawaia, a 21st round selection of the Los Angeles Angels, was a Second Team All-Region selection, but a First Team All-Southern Conference outfielder during the 2016 season. Kalawaia started in 56 games, playing right field in all, and hitting in the third spot of the lineup in 52 contests. The redshirt senior hit for a .396 average, with 23 extra base hits. He drove in 65 runs, second-most on the team, while leading the Spartans with 23 stolen bases. Kalawaia's 2016 season totals place him in the single season top 10 in six categories, including runs scored, hits, triples, RBI, batting average, and on-base percentage.
Stewart played in all 59 games during the 2016 season, and was a Second Team All-Southern Conference selection. The junior competed as the designated hitter, first baseman, and left fielder. He earned Second Team All-Region honors as the designated hitter. Stewart hit for a .335 average, while leading the Spartans with a .665 slugging percentage. The right-handed hitter hit 19 doubles, four triples and led the team with 14 home runs, while driving in 62 runs. Stewart also tied with Kalawaia leading the team with 62 runs scored.
Joining the Spartans on the All-Region squad include seven players who are playing in the College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, Neb. this weekend. The three selections are the second-most of any team in the region, behind Miami's five selections. Miami has been ranked in the top five throughout the 2016 season and will be competing for a national title next week in Omaha. UNCG's three selections ties with CWS participant Coastal Carolina, and NCAA Gainesville Regional participant Georgia Tech.
All All-Region selections are listed below.
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NCAA Div. I Atlantic All-Region First Team
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|
Pos.
|
Player
|
Cl.
|
School
|
State
|
|
C
|
Zack Collins
|
Jr.
|
Miami
|
FL
|
|
1B
|
Logan Sherer
|
Jr.
|
Charlotte
|
NC
|
|
2B
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Ben Spitznagel
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Jr.
|
UNCG
|
NC
|
|
3B
|
Will Craig
|
Jr.
|
Wake Forest
|
NC
|
|
SS
|
Taylor Walls
|
So.
|
Florida State
|
FL
|
|
OF
|
Seth Beer
|
Fr.
|
Clemson
|
SC
|
|
OF
|
Connor Owings
|
Sr.
|
Coastal Carolina
|
SC
|
|
OF
|
Bryson Bowman
|
Jr.
|
Western Carolina
|
NC
|
|
DH
|
G.K. Young
|
Jr.
|
Coastal Carolina
|
SC
|
|
P
|
Connor Jones
|
Jr.
|
Virginia
|
VA
|
|
P
|
Michael Mediavilla
|
So.
|
Miami
|
FL
|
|
P
|
J.B. Bukauskas
|
So.
|
North Carolina
|
NC
|
|
RP
|
Matthew Gorst
|
Jr.
|
Georgia Tech
|
GA
|
| |
|
NCAA Div. I Atlantic All-Region Second Team
|
|
Pos.
|
Player
|
Cl.
|
School
|
State
|
|
C
|
Chris Okey
|
Jr.
|
Clemson
|
SC
|
|
C
|
Matt Thaiss
|
Jr.
|
Virginia
|
VA
|
|
1B
|
Matt Smith
|
Jr.
|
Western Carolina
|
NC
|
|
2B
|
Johnny Ruiz
|
Jr.
|
Miami
|
FL
|
|
3B
|
Zach Remillard
|
Sr.
|
Coastal Carolina
|
SC
|
|
SS
|
Brandon Lopez
|
Sr.
|
Miami
|
FL
|
|
OF
|
L.J. Kalawaia
|
Sr.
|
UNCG
|
NC
|
|
OF
|
Weston Jackson
|
Sr.
|
Presbyterian
|
SC
|
|
OF
|
Matt Gonzalez
|
Sr.
|
Georgia Tech
|
GA
|
|
DH
|
Dillon Stewart
|
Jr.
|
UNCG
|
NC
|
|
P
|
Will Gaddis
|
So.
|
Furman
|
SC
|
|
P
|
Clark Beeker
|
Sr.
|
Davidson
|
NC
|
|
P
|
Brandon Gold
|
Jr.
|
Georgia Tech
|
GA
|
|
RP
|
Bryan Garcia
|
Jr.
|
Miami
|
FL
|
-UNCG-
