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Koby Gaddis named pitcher of the year after leading NAIA in wins

Published on May 1, 2014 by Evangel University News

Evangel starting pitcher Koby Gaddis was named the Heart of America Conference Pitcher of the Year after ending the season leading the NAIA in wins. He won all 13 of his starts going 13-0 with a 2.38 earned run average.

Gaddis is the first Evangel player to win the conference’s pitcher of the year award since Dan Wetter in 1996. He struck out 61 batters in 83.1 innings and was second in the league in opposing batting average at just .170. Gaddis was also named a first-team Heart of America Conference performer.

Seven players in all were named all-conference performers in a vote of league coaches. Joining Gaddis on the first-team were senior first baseman Christian Maciel and junior second baseman Michael Headlee.

Maciel was second in the conference in hitting as he posted a .374 average with two home runs and 42 runs batted in.

Headlee hit .338 with one home run and 32 runs batted in while earning the second all-conference selection of his career.

Shortstop Jake Garrison was a second-team selection.  The senior hit .358 with three home runs and 28 runs batted in. His batting average was seventh best in the conference and he was sixth in runs scored with 41.

Honorable mention selections from Evangel included outfielders Nate Jones and Brandon Cobb, and designated hitter Wes Clay. Jones and Cobb were both named to the all-conference team for the second time in their careers.

In addition, Headlee and Cobb won the HAAC Gold Glove awards at their respective positions.

The Crusaders finished the season winning a program record 34 games as they went 34-15. Their 20-6 conference record also represented a program record and their overall winning percentage of .694 was their best since 1982.


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