Leading the NAIA in batting average along with a No. 2 national ranking have earned Georgia Gwinnett College freshman Walter Coursey and Head Coach Brad Stromdahl the 2018 Association of Independent Institutions' Baseball Player and Coach of the Year awards.

The honors were announced Friday, May 4, at the banquet on the eve of the league's postseason championship tournament.

Coursey leads all NAIA players with a .510 batting average during his freshman season. The infielder has scored 52 runs and has 35 RBI on the season. Coursey has also tallied 78 hits and 16 steals this spring.

Stromdahl has led the Grizzlies to a 43-8 record, ending the regular season on a 17-game winning streak and a No. 2 national ranking in the NAIA.

Junior Hunter Peck earned the 2018 A.I.I. Pitcher of the Year award for posting a 9-0 record with 67 strikeouts in 12 starts. He also was a first-team all-conference selection.

Freshman Nick Barnes received the A.I.I. Freshman of the Year award after ranking third on the team with a .394 batting average. Barnes ranks second on the team with 47 RBI and six home runs. He earned first-team All-A.I.I. accolades as an utility player, splitting time in the outfield and being a designated hitter in the lineup.

GGC had eight members receive first-team All-A.I.I. honors for the 2018 season. The list includes sophomore Hunter Dollander, who joined Peck as starting pitchers; junior Gregory Loukinen, as the first-team relief pitcher; and junior Alex Garland, at first base after leading the Grizzlies by hitting eight home runs.

Also, Coursey earned first-team accolades at second base; senior Marcus McCorkle, as designated hitter after lead the Grizzlies with 48 RBI, while hitting .347; and junior C.J. Ballard, in the outfield with a .416 batting average and 19 stolen bases.

Second-team All-A.I.I. honorees were junior Onassis Matos, at catcher with 30 RBI, .347 batting average and three home runs; junior Jordan Tylski, as a reliever after tallying four saves, a 4-0 record and a 0.73 earned run average in 13 appearances.

Garland and Coursey each earned a spot on the A.I.I. Gold Glove team for their strong defensive play this spring.

Senior Kade Carrigan and Garland rounded out the honorees with a spot on the A.I.I. Champions of Character team.

GGC, the tournament's No. 1 seed, opens the 2018 A.I.I. Baseball Championship Tournament Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m. against the winner of the day's opening game between No. 5-seeded Fisher College (Mass.) and No. 4-seeded Edward Waters College (Fla.). No. 2-seeded College of Ozarks (Mo.) and No. 3-seeded Talladega College (Ala.) round out the five teams in the double-elimination tournament, taking place at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

2018 Association of Independent Institutions Baseball Honors

Player of the Year: Walter Coursey

Pitcher of the Year: Hunter Peck

Freshman of the Year: Nick Barnes

Coach of the Year: Brad Stromdahl

First-Team All-Conference

Starting Pitcher – Hunter Dollander

Starting Pitcher – Hunter Peck

Relief Pitcher – Gregory Loukinen

First Baseman – Alex Garland

Second Baseman – Walter Coursey

Utility – Nick Barnes

Outfielder – C.J. Ballard

Designated Hitter – Marcus McCorkle

 

Second Team

Relief Pitcher – Jordan Tylski

Catcher – Onassis Matos

 

Gold Glove Team

Alex Garland

Walter Coursey

 

Champions of Character

Kade Carrigan

Alex Garland