ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has announced the all-conference teams as well as the superlative awards for the 2022 baseball season. For his efforts on the field this season, Evan Evola was named the SLIAC Baseball Player of the Year, the SLIAC Baseball Newcomer of the Year, and First Team All-SLIAC while Head Coach Bill Kurich was named the SLIAC Coach of the Year. In addition, Alek Elges and Jordan Smevoll earned First Team All-SLIAC honors; A.J. Smith, Ben Swords, Parker Wielt, and Adam Lovell earned Second Team All-SLIAC honors; and Carter Hunt, Nathaniel Martinez, Matt Staker, and R.J. LaRocco earned Third Team All-SLIAC honors. Lastly, Mitch Daniels was named to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship team.
Evan Evola – Player of the Year/Newcomer of the Year/First Team All-SLIAC
Evola, a freshman designated hitter out of Ottawa, Illinois, was the best hitter for the Gorloks this season. He led the team in batting average (.446), slugging percentage (.738), on-base percentage (.528), doubles (14), homeruns (8), RBI (47), and hits (58) while finishing tied for second with 41 runs scored. He recorded 18 multi-hit games including six games with three hits. In conference play, Evola hit .469 with a .875 slugging percentage and a .575 on-base percentage. He racked up 25 runs scored, eight doubles, six homeruns, and 29 RBI while walking 12 times. His 29 RBI were second in the SLIAC in conference play while his .469 average, .875 slugging percentage, and .575 on base percentage led the league. His .446 batting average is on pace to be the third best mark in a single season for the Gorloks while his .528 on-base percentage is on pace to the fourth best mark in program history. He was named the SLIAC Baseball Diamond Sports Hitter of the Week and to the D3baseball.com Team of the Week once this season. He is the eighth player in Webster baseball history to be named the SLIAC Baseball Player of the Year and the first since Tom Henke won the award in 2012. He also becomes the seventh player in Webster baseball history to be named the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year with the last being R.J. LaRocco last season.
Bill Kurich – Coach of the Year
This marks the ninth time, and second straight season, that Head Coach Bill Kurich has been named the SLIAC Baseball Coach of the Year. He led his team to a 34-6 overall record on the year and a 18-2 mark in the SLIAC. His team is currently ranked at the top of Region VIII while being ranked eighth in both the D3baseball.com Top 25 Poll and the Collegiate Baseball American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll. He captured his 500th career victory with a 15-4 win over Fontbonne (Mo.) University on Friday, April 22nd and currently has an overall record of 512-188 in 16 seasons.
Alek Elges – First Team All-SLIAC
Elges, a sophomore pitcher out of Littleton, Colorado, was a force on the mound for the Gorloks this season. He finished the regular season with an 8-2 overall record while recording two saves, a 3.05 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 65.0 innings pitched. In conference play, Elges went 5-1 with a 3.35 ERA and 32 strikeouts. His five wins was tied for second in the conference while his 32 strikeouts was tied for fifth and his 3.35 ERA was ranked seventh. He threw the first perfect game, and fifth no-hitter, in Webster baseball history in a 5-0 win over Greenville (Ill.) University on April 30th making him just the 24th player in Division III baseball history to throw a perfect game. Following his perfect game, he was named the SLIAC Baseball Diamond Sports Pitcher of the Week, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division III Pitcher of the Week, and to the D3baseball.com Team of the Week. This is his second career All-SLIAC selection and his first career First Team All-SLIAC selection.
Jordan Smevoll – First Team All-SLIAC
Smevoll, a sophomore pitcher out of Dyer, Indiana, was the number one starter for the Gorloks this season. He finished the regular season with a 5-1 overall record while tossing two complete games in 10 starts. He allowed just 21 earned runs on the season in a team high 67.2 innings pitched while posting a 2.79 ERA. He struck out 58 batters on the year while holding opponents to a .256 batting average. In conference play, Smevoll went 3-0 with two complete games, 31 strikeouts, and a 1.89 ERA. His 1.89 ERA is the second-best mark in the conference while his 31 strikeouts ranks seventh. This is his second straight All-SLIAC selection and his first on the First Team.
A.J. Smith – Second Team All-SLIAC
Smith, a graduate student out of Duquoin, Illinois, held down the second base position for most of the season. He finished the year with a .345 batting average while slugging .511 and getting on base nearly 41 percent of the time. His .345 batting average was the second-best mark on the team this season. In addition, he finished the year with nine doubles, one triple, four homeruns, 32 RBI, and 71 totals bases. In conference play, Smith hit .342 while driving in 12 runs and stealing seven bases. He hit five doubles while scoring 11 runs. He also posted a fielding percentage of .940 while turning five double plays. This is his second straight Second Team All-SLIAC selection.
Ben Swords – Second Team All-SLIAC
Swords, a senior out of Freeport, Illinois, started 39 games at third base for the Gorloks this season. He finished the year with a .326 batting average, a .522 slugging percentage, and a .434 on-base percentage. He recorded nine doubles, six homeruns, 72 total bases, and 37 RBI while stealing seven bases. In conference play, Swords hit .301 with a .534 slugging percentage. He drove in 19 runs while hitting four homeruns and five doubles. This season he became the Gorloks all-time hits leader (248), all-time RBI leader (178), all-time games played leader (195), and all-time games started leader (195). This is Swords fourth straight All-SLIAC selection and the second time being named Second Team All-SLIAC.
Parker Wielt – Second Team All-SLIAC
Wielt, a sophomore first baseman out of Mount Vernon, Illinois, appeared in 40 game for Webster this season while getting the start in 39. He finished third on the team with a .340 batting average while slugging .523 and posting a .389 on-base percentage. He tallied nine doubles, two triples, and five homeruns while driving in 35 runs and scoring 41. In conference play, Wielt hit .320 while slugging .587. He drove in 26 runs while hitting six doubles, one triple, and four homeruns. This is his first career Second Team All-SLIAC selection.
Adam Lovell – Second Team All-SLIAC
Lovell, a senior outfielder out of Lafayette, Indiana, appeared and started in 39 games for the Gorloks. He finished the year with a .308 batting average and a .431 on-base percentage while recording six doubles, three homeruns, 33 RBI and nine stolen bases. In conference play, Lovell hit .325 while recording four doubles, three homeruns, and 22 RBI. He made one of the biggest outs of the season in the teams perfect game when he threw a runner out at first base from right field to keep the perfect game alive. He was named the SLIAC Baseball Diamond Sports Hitter of the Week once this season. This is his third career All-SLIAC selection and his second time being named Second Team All-SLIAC.
Carter Hunt – Third Team All-SLIAC
Hunt, a freshman pitcher out of San Diego, California, made 10 appearances on the mound this season. He finished the regular season with a 5-0 overall record posting a 3.15 ERA and 41 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .263 batting average in 45.2 innings pitched. In conference play, Hunt went 4-0 with a 3.91 ERA. He struck out 12 batters in 23.0 innings pitched. This is his first career Third Team All-SLIAC selection.
Nathaniel Martinez – Third Team All-SLIAC
Martinez, a sophomore catcher out of Orlando, Florida, appeared in 23 games for Webster this season while making 21 starts. He finished the year with a .362 batting average while slugging .534. He drove in 20 runs while hitting two doubles, a triple, and two homeruns. He also stole four bases while drawing seven walks. In conference play, Martinez hit .333 with a .467 slugging percentage and a .488 on-base percentage. He finished with nine RBI, one homerun and one double. This is his first career Third Team All-SLIAC selection.
Matt Staker – Third Team All-SLIAC
Staker, a senior shortstop out of El Cajon, California, appeared in 37 games for Webster this season while making 35 starts. He finished the season with a .333 batting average, a .481 slugging percentage, and a .446 on-base percentage. He hit 10 doubles and two homeruns while recording 22 RBI and 52 total bases. In conference play, Staker hit .340 with 15 RBI, six doubles, and one homerun. This is his third career All-SLIAC selection and first time being named Third Team All-SLIAC.
R.J. LaRocco – Third Team All-SLIAC
LaRocco, a sophomore outfielder out of San Diego, California, started 21 games for the Gorloks on the year. He hit .397 while slugging .676 and posting a .449 on-base percentage. He finished the year with 10 doubles, three homeruns, and 21 RBI while scoring 17 runs and stealing three bases. In conference play, LaRocco hit .531 while tallying six doubles, two homeruns, 16 RBI, and 12 runs scored. This is his second straight Third Team All-SLIAC selection.
