GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Minnesota Crookston baseball player
Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) was named to the 2017 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II Gold Glove Team, as announced June 21 by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Stewart is the first U of M Crookston baseball player in program history to win the award and the first player in program history to win a national award. Stewart was one of just nine NCAA Division II baseball players to earn Gold Glove honors in the entire nation.
Stewart was an All-NSIC Second Team selection in his first year playing for the Golden Eagles after redshirting the 2016 season. He was a 2017 All-NSIC Gold Glove recipient. He is the only player for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) who earned the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove. Stewart was a standout in center field all season long for the Golden Eagles, proving that he is one of the best defensive outfielders in all of Division II baseball. He posted a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage with no errors and 125 putouts on the season. Stewart showcased his phenomenal arm on several occasions, posting five outfield assists on the season. He also was strong from the plate on the year, hitting .332 on the season with a team-leading 47 runs scored, five home runs and 34 RBI's.
The 2017 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Teams have been released by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods in nine divisions of amateur baseball, from NCAA Div. I to High School. The Rawlings Gold Glove winners have been selected since 2007 in the collegiate and high school ranks, featuring many future Major League Baseball players.
The NCAA Div. I College World Series, being played currently in Omaha, Nebraska, includes two members of the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I Gold Glove Team: Oregon State second baseman Nick Madrigal and Louisville shortstop Devin Hairston.
The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are selected by ABCA coaches committees at each level: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and High School.
The ABCA/Rawlings Award Program is one of the most comprehensive in all of sports, awarding All-America Teams and Gold Glove Teams in nine divisions of amateur baseball as well as All-Region Teams in five divisions.
The ABCA/Rawlings All-America teams date back to 1949 starting with one collegiate All-America Team. Other divisions subsequently added until the current total of nine was reached. The first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were recognized in 2007, making this the 11th year the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards have been presented in the collegiate and high school ranks.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 8,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 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 74th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 4-7, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit
Rawlings.com or by phone at
(314) 819-2800.
The U of M Crookston baseball program posted 24 wins on the 2017 season, advancing to their second-consecutive NSIC Tournament. The Golden Eagles have had a lot of success in the last two seasons with their best two years in program history, amassing 49 wins. They will look to continue to build on their success heading into the 2018 season.
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at
www.goldeneaglesports.com.
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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| 2017 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II Gold Glove Team |
| NCAA Div. II Gold Glove Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Chase Simmons |
Sr. |
Lubbock Christian |
TX |
| 1B |
Jimbo Pernetti |
Sr. |
Chico State |
CA |
| 2B |
Grant Berry |
So. |
Columbus State |
GA |
| 3B |
Cameron Santos |
Jr. |
Chico State |
CA |
| SS |
Drew Greenwood |
Jr. |
Bellarmine |
KY |
| OF |
Drew Eady |
Sr. |
West Georgia |
GA |
| OF |
Anthony Stewart |
Jr. |
Minnesota Crookston |
MN |
| OF |
Logan Mattix |
Jr. |
Georgia College |
GA |
| P |
Zac Brown |
Jr. |
Mars Hill |
NC |
