HICKORY, N.C. — Four members of the Catawba Valley Community College baseball program have been honored by Perfect Game by being named to the organization's top 300 JUCO baseball players list.
Pitchers Logan Bender, Chase Covington and Myles White and catcher Willie Gordon were all named to the list, which was released on Friday by Perfect Game writer Brian Sakowski.
Bender, a sophomore transfer from Campbell University, was the highest ranking of the Red Hawks on the list at No. 102. The N.C. State signee transferred to Catawba Valley after earning All-American status and Big South Freshman of the Year honors on the mound during his only season with the Camels.
He went 5-2 with a 3.42 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 47.1 innings pitched at Campbell. Opposing batters also hit just .199 against him.
Bender was one of three Red Hawks named to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's "Players to Watch" list earlier this month.
Covington, a left-handed redshirt sophomore, was ranked No. 196 on the list. The UNC Charlotte signee from Troutman, N.C. pitched in 11 games, including three in conference play, allowing five hits, five earned runs, seven walks and striking out 13 batters.
Opposing hitters batted just .172 against Covington in 29 at bats last season. Covington, along with CVCC teammates Trae Starnes and Garrison Burress, became the first three Red Hawks to sign with the Charlotte 49ers in November.
Catcher Willie Gordon made the Perfect Game's list at No. 267. The sophomore from Denver, Colo. played in 25 games (11 in conference) during his freshman season at CVCC last spring. He tallied 13 hits (two doubles, two home runs), 15 RBI and nine runs scored in 65 at bats (77 plate appearances).
Behind the plate, Gordon recorded 157 put outs, 18 assists and just four errors in 179 total chances for a .978 fielding percentage.
White, a redshirt sophomore, was the final Red Hawk ranked by Perfect Game, coming in at No. 283. The right-handed pitcher, who has signed with North Carolina A&T, can throw a 88-93 mph fastball, a 72-73 mph breaking ball and a 76-77 mph splitter.
The CVCC baseball team kicks off its 2019 season on Saturday, Feb. 9 in a road doubleheader at USC Union in Union, S.C.