HICKORY, N.C. — In celebration of its decade-long existence, the Catawba Valley Community College baseball program is proud to announce its 10th Anniversary team.
This 33-person team encompasses players from the program's start all the way until the current spring season.
Below is a list of those chosen as well as some background information on each athlete:
FIRST BASE
Ryan Smith (2012-14) - The second All-American in program history, Smith finished his Red Hawk career with 73 games played, 87 hits, 49 RBIs, 61 runs and a .347 career batting average….during his All-American season in 2012-13, Smith tallied 51 hits, including seven doubles, one triple and one home run…Smith went on to sign with Brevard College, where he finished his four-year athletic career by falling 103 hits, 42 RBI and 49 runs scored.
Marshall McDonald (2009-10) - Ranking second in program history in home runs in a season (14), McDonald is also third in career home runs (14)….in three seasons as an assistant coach from 2014-17, McDonald helped the Red Hawks re-write the offensive record books, setting new program marks for on-base percentage (.424), runs (415), doubles (126), home runs (48), RBIs (362) and hit by pitch (54) during his tenure…McDonald helped the 2016 CVCC baseball team finish in the top 25 in multiple offensive categories, including runs (24th), hits (21st), doubles (sixth), home runs (18th), RBIs (25th), batting average (21st) and slugging (13th).
Brett Huffman (2011-12) - In his lone season with CVCC, the Salisbury native played in 40 games, tallying 58 hits, including eight doubles, one triple and seven home runs…scored 35 runs, drove in 30 RBIs and tallied a .372 batting average…also stole six bases….the West Rowan High School product went on to finish his career at UNC Pembroke where he helped the Braves win 71 games, including 36 in conference play.
SECOND BASE
Danny Fraga (2010-12) - The program's first-ever All-American, Fraga was a key cog in helping the Red Hawks reach their first-ever National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII World Series in 2012…as a sophomore at CVCC, Fraga played in 42 games, registering 66 hits, two doubles, two home runs, 62 runs scored, 20 RBIs and stealing 15 bases….Fraga holds the the career record for runs scored (110), on-base percentage .568 and hit by pitch (17)…he also owns the season record for times hit by pitch (12)…Fraga went on to complete a successful four-year career at UNC Pembroke, where he played in 105 games for the Braves…finished his playing career with the Frontier League's Florence Freedom before retiring from baseball in January of 2018.
Jimmy Marcelli (2016-18) - The former Clover High School product finished his career with 101 games played, 115 hits, including 17 doubles and six home runs…scored 100 runs during his two-year career with the Red Hawks…drove in 52 RBIs, drew, 59 walks and stole 25 bases…finished his career with a .331 batting average, .438 on-base percentage and .461 slugging percentage…ranks second in a season in at bats (191) and doubles (17) and is third in plate appearances (225)…drew 59 walks during his career, which are the most ever….Marcelli is tied for the career record for plate appearances (420) and ranks second in at bats (347)…signed with Presbyterian following his time at CVCC.
Tyler Deaton (2009-11) - The East Rutherford grad finished his two-year CVCC career with 81 games played, tallying 86 hits, including 18 doubles, five triples and three home runs….he scored 71 career runs and drove in 56 RBIs….he finished his career with a .323 career batting average…also tallied 14 stolen bases during his sophomore season in 2011.
Kurt Stabasefski (2012-14) - Played in 87 career games during his two years with the CVCC baseball program, recording 109 hits in 287 at bats…scored 81 runs and drove in 39 runs….drew 34 walks, including 24 during his sophomore season…his 134 assists are the most in a season in CVCC history….his eight career sacrifice hits are also the most in program history.
SHORTSTOP
Ivan Acuna (2013-15) - The former Hopewell High School standout finished his career with 91 games played, 326 at bats and 75 runs scored…he tallied 115 hits, including 22 doubles and six home runs, and 64 RBIs….he finished his career with a .353 batting average, .406 on-base percentage and .475 slugging percentage…continued his playing career at Winston-Salem State University, earning CIAA Player of the Year and All-CIAA First Team honors in 2017.
Garrison Burress (2017-19) - The Granite Falls, N.C. native exploded on the scene as a freshman during the 2017-18 season, playing in 53 games, scoring 50 runs and driving in 45 RBIs…also tallied 15 doubles, three triples and seven home runs…Burress' 119 assists are the second-most in a season in CVCC history…he became just the second Red Hawk to ever be taken in the MLB Draft directly from CVCC when the Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the 40th round in 2018…Burress will continue his athletic career this fall at the UNC Charlotte with Red Hawk teammates Trae Starnes and Chase Covington — the first three 49er signees by the CVCC baseball program.
Tripper Crisson (2009-11) - A program original, the Lincolnton native played in 87 games for the Bucs, tallying 104 career hits, including a career high 58 as a freshman…Crisson also recorded 13 doubles, 84 runs scored, 58 RBIs and 53 drawn walks during his two-year CVCC career….he finished his Catawba Valley career with a .350 batting average…Crisson went on to continue his athletic career at Tusculum University, where he was a two-year letterman for the Pioneers.
THIRD BASE
Danny Sullivan (2013-15) - The first-ever First Team All-American and fourth overall All-American for the program, Sullivan shares the record for most games played in a season (56)….ranks second in career at bats (191) and third in hits in a season (84)….his 26-game hitting streak helped power CVCC during its last World Series run in 2015…Sullivan ranks third in doubles in a season in program history (17)….He hit home runs in a program-record four consecutive games during the 2015 NJCAA World Series….Sullivan owns the program record for runs scored (63) and the career record for games played (106), at bats (361), hits (146) and total bases (213)…Sullivan went on to continue his athletic career at Gardner-Webb University, where he tallied 140 career hits in 113 career games and received All-Big South Conference honors.
Graham Mitchell (2016-18) - The Greenville, S.C. native finished his CVCC career with 101 games played and 108 hits, including 18 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs…Mitchell shares the record for most games played in a season (56), which came during his sophomore campaign….he ranks fourth in program history with 11 home runs in a single season…..also ranks third in a season with 61 RBIs and second in a season with 39 walks…his 95 RBIs are the most in a career and his 16 home runs are the second-most in a career…signed to continue his playing career at Presbyterian College.
Craig Zalewa (2015-16) - The Hopewell High School alumnus finished his career with 48 games played, 60 hits in 160 at bats (.375 batting average)….scored 38 runs and drove in 58 RBIs….Zalewa set school records in a single season for doubles (25), RBIs (58) and slugging percentage (.700)…his 25 doubles, which are still a single-season record, also ranked second in the nation…Zalewa was the first CVCC position player to be named NJCAA Player of the Week for his play during the week of Feb. 15-21, 2016....The Huntersville native went on to continue his four-year career at Presbyterian College.
CATCHER
Riley Smith (2016-17) - One of three-straight Red Hawks to earn a ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove for his defense, Smith ranks second in put outs in a season (275) and total chances (298)…his .993 fielding percentage during his sophomore season was the best among NJCAA catchers nationally with over 150 chances...he ranks second in a season in program history with six sac flies…the former Alexander Central standout continued his career at Appalachian State University, where he has played in 91 career games, including 86 starts with 65 hits (15 doubles, four triples and seven home runs).
Randal Ortiz (2014-16) - The Maiden High School product played in 104 games for the Red Hawks, tallying 116 hits, including 33 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs…the Baymon, Puerto Rico native also scored 87 runs and drove in 86 RBIs during his two years with the CVCC baseball program…Ortiz ranks third in program history with 12 home runs in a season, and he owns the program record for career doubles (33)…earned All-Region honors twice in his career…ranks second with career RBIs and third with 15 career home runs…Ortiz continued his career at Winston-Salem State University, where he finished his four-year career with 62 hits, 13 doubles, seven home runs, 56 RBIs and 45 runs scored in 75 career games with the Rams…he also earned All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association honors during his time at WSSU.
Rob Cafeiro (2011-12) - The Bethpage, N.Y. native played in 42 games during his lone season at CVCC, tallying 62 hits in 153 at bats, including 13 doubles, one triple and one home run…Cafeiro also scored 40 runs and drove in 27 RBIs, earning All-Region X honors…he finished his career at CVCC with a .405 batting average and a .473 on-base percentage, drawing 19 walks and being hit by seven pitches…Cafeiro went on to attend Hofstra University, finishing his four-year career with the Pride…he tallied 95 hits, including 25 doubles, two triples and two home runs in 84 games played at Hofstra (82 starts)…tallied a .297 career batting average and .406 slugging percentage with the Pride.
OUTFIELD
Chandler Jenkins (2015-17) - The first-ever National Player of the Year and program's sixth All-American, Jenkins holds season records for home runs (18), RBIs (74), batting average (.460), slugging percentage (.868), total bases (164) and extra-base hits (40) and is ranked second in on-base percentage (.516)…owns the career record for home runs (18)…during his sophomore season, Jenkins struck out just 21 times and walked 19 in 55 games played….Jenkins went on to continue his four-year career at East Carolina University…he currently has 26 hits, including four doubles and three home runs, along with 23 runs scored and 18 RBI.
Bryson Bowman (2013-14) - The third All-American in program history, Bowman played in 50 games for CVCC, tallying 64 hits in 189 at bats (.339 batting average), including seven doubles, three triples and four home runs….Bowman scored 41 runs and drove in 46 RBIs, which rank third-most in a season….tallied 89 total bases…finished his career with a .339 batting average, .393 on-base percentage and .471 slugging percentage….went on to have a standout career at Western Carolina University where he finished ranked first in career on-base percentage (.456) and 20th in home runs (30)….Bowman earned All-Southern Conference second team honors as a junior in 2017 after batting .326 with 35 extra-base hits, including 13 doubles, three triples and 19 home runs….also selected to the ABCA/Rawlings Atlanta Region first team and a third team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)…Bowman became the first-ever CVCC Player selected in the MLB Draft when he was taken by the New York Yankees in the 33rd round in 2016…returned to WCU for his senior season, becoming just the 16th Catamount to earn the program's triple crown — leading the team in batting average (.381), RBI (59) and home runs (11).
Ty Andrus (2014-16) - The fifth All-American in program history and second All-American outfielder, Andrus finished his career at CVCC with 79 games played and 110 hits in 266 at bats for a .414 batting average…the Winston-Salem, N.C. native holds the Catawba Valley records for most career plate appearances (237), at bats (201) and hits in a season (88)….the R.J. Reynolds High School standout hit six triples in 2016, which are tied for the second-most in a season….he ranks second in program history in runs scored in a season (60) and has the second-most stolen bases in program history (36)…Andrus went on to have a standout career at Wingate University where he played and started in 94 career games, tallying 129 hits, 73 runs scored, 44 RBI and stolen 40 bases….Andrus earned South Atlantic Conference Gold Glove honors as a senior, making zero errors on 115 total chances from his center field position.
Brandon Ford (2014-16) - The Kernersville, N.C. native finished his CVCC career with 93 games played…he tallied 110 hits in 294 at bats (.374 batting average) with 21 doubles and nine home runs….his seven career triples rank first in program history….scored 82 runs and drove in 73 RBIs…Ford went on to have a standout career at Winston-Salem State University, earning first team All-CIAA honors as a junior….Ford finished his Ram career with 101 games played, 97 runs scored, 117 hits (23 doubles, 15 triples, 15 home runs) and 91 runs scored.
PITCHERS
Julian Smith (2015-16, 2017-18) - The program's seventh All-American and first All-American pitcher, Smith finished his CVCC baseball career with a 10-5 record in 23 appearances (21 starts) and one save….the Concord, N.C. native pitched in 115.2 innings, allowing 86 hits, 66 runs (46 earned), 60 walks and striking out 181 batters (the most in a career) with a 3.59 career ERA…became the first Red Hawk to sign with a Power Five School on Nov. 9, 2017 when he inked with North Carolina State University…the former Cox Mill standout became the first Red Hawk to be selected directly from CVCC in the Major League Baseball Draft when he was taken in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018…Smith holds program records for wins in a season (8), strikeouts in a season (130) and strikeouts per nine innings in a season (14.81)…ranks second in program history in games started (21), wins (10) and innings pitched (115.2).
Robert Whaley (2011-13) - The former Hickory High School standout finished his CVCC career with 23 games played, a 9-3 record in 104.2 innings pitched…he allowed 33 runs (24 earned), 72 hits, 35 walks and struck out 71 batters…also recorded two saves during his career....tallied a 2.07 career ERA…Whaley's four complete games in a season are tied for the most in school history…earned All-Region honors twice during his CVCC career…part of Catawba Valley's 2012 Region 10 championship and World Series teams…went on to continue his four-year career at Appalachian State University….went 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA and three saves as a freshman closer for the Mountaineers…was 1-1 with two saves as a senior in 2015.
Cole Whitney (2016-17) - The Campbell Hall, N.Y. native was dominant during his lone season with the CVCC baseball program, tallying an 8-3 record in 15 appearances (13 starts) for the Red Hawks in 2017…tossed two complete games…the Goshen Central product pitched in 87.1 innings, allowing 83 hits, 43 runs (28 earned), 23 walks and striking out 101 batters…completed his CVCC career with a 2.89 ERA…his eight wins are tied for the most in a season in program history…his 87.1 innings are the second-most in a season in program history…signed to continue his four-year career at Georgia Southern….currently is 8-4 with seven saves for the Eagles in his career…has struck out 94 batters in 107 innings with a career 2.36 ERA.
Justin Norton (2013-15) - The Denver, N.C. native finished his CVCC career with 26 appearances (a program-record 25 starts) and a 12-3 record…pitched in 145.1 innings in his two seasons, allowing 144 hits, 69 runs (52 earned) 40 walks and striking out 91 batters….tallied a 3.16 career ERA….Norton owns the program record for games started in a season (6) and innings pitched (96.2) in a season…..the North Lincoln High School product continued his four-year playing career at Winston-Salem State University where he tallied a 5-3 record in 14 appearances (12 starts) and three complete games….pitched in 76 career innings for the Rams, allowing 75 hits, 38 runs (35 earned), 18 walks and striking out 74 batters with a 4.14 ERA.
Bryce Hensley (2014-15) - Made a huge impact during his first and only season at CVCC, helping the Red Hawks reach their second-ever World Series…started 15 games, compiling a 7-2 record with four complete games…pitched in 73.1 innings, allowing 73 hits, 40 runs (24 earned), 24 walks and striking out 74 batters with a 2.95 ERA…ranks first in program history in a season with four complete games and is second in a season in strikeouts (74)….continued his four-year career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, compiling an 18-13 record in 50 appearances….he allowed 268 hits, 157 runs (131 earned), 80 walks and struck out 206 batters in 237.2 innings pitched….ranks sixth all-time in games started in a career at UNCG and is tied for the sixth-most wins in a Spartan career…Hensley became the second Red Hawk taken in the MLB Draft after moving on to the four-year level and the third all-time CVCC draft pick when he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round in 2018.
Jon Milsaps (2010-12) - The Vashti, N.C. native was a pivotal bullpen piece for CVCC during its first World Series run in 2012….Millsaps played in 16 games for the Bucs, pitching in 50 innings with 21 runs given up (13 earned), 36 hits and 15 strikeouts…the Alexander Central High School product tallied a 4-0 record on the mound with a career 2.34 ERA…signed to continue his playing career at UNC Pembroke.
Cory Parks (2010-12) - The Cherryville, N.C. product was a key rotation piece for the Bucs during their first World Series run in the 2012 season…Parks pitched in six games for the Bucs, tallying 32 innings pitched…he gave up seven runs (six earned) 18 hits and struck out 19 batters while walking just six batters…he finished his career with a 4-1 record and a 1.69 ERA.
Dustin Greene (2012-14) - The right-hander was a reliable shutdown arm for Catawba Valley during its first World Series season in 2012…he compiled a 3-1 record in 30 appearances for CVCC, including two games started…Greene tallied 51 innings pitched and surrendered 31 hits, 14 runs (10 earned), 24 walks and struck out 43 batters….finished his career with a 1.76 ERA…Greene ranks eighth in a season in program history for his 11.02 strikeouts per nine innings...originally committed to Gardner-Webb University, but ultimately decided not to continue his playing career.
Aaron Biggerstaff (2014-16) - The Mount Holly, N.C. native finished his career with 39 appearances (five starts), including a 14-2 record and one save…the South Point alumnus pitched in 86.2 innings, allowing 30 runs (20 earned), 30 walks and striking out 99 batters...Biggerstaff owns the program record for most game appearances (39), wins (14) ad ERA (2.08) in a career…Following his time at CVCC, Biggerstaff signed to continue his playing career at UNC Pembroke where he finished his four-year career with a 7-2 record and a 4.01 ERA….made 38 appearances for the Braves, recording 69.2 innings pitched and giving up 88 hits, 45 runs (31 earned), 28 walks and striking out 72 batters.
Jacob Breakfield (2013-14, 2015-16) - The Bessemer City native made 30 appearances from the Red Hawks during his career, starting in four games….he ended his career with a 5-3 record and eight saves…..gave up 30 hits, 11 runs (six earned), 12 walks and struck out 46 batters...finished his career with a 1.04 ERA…Breakfield has the most game appearances in a season in CVCC history (22)…also has a season-best seven saves…his 1.33 ERA during his sophomore season ranks lowest in a season in program history…Breakfield continued his playing career at Western Carolina University where he pitched in 15 games and struck out 18 batters during his lone season.
Taylor Purus (2014-16) - The South Caldwell High School product pitched in 26 games, including 16 starts, recording a 9-1 record on the mound with one career save…the Hudson, N.C. native pitched in 82 innings, allowing 67 hits, 49 runs (39 earned), 52 walks and striking out 86 batters with a 4.26 ERA...Nicknamed "Taylor Two Times" for his two wins on the mound during the 2015 NJCAA World Series, Purus continued his playing career at Western Carolina University where he is currently a senior….he has a pitched in 160.1 innings for the Catamounts, giving up 179 hits, 132 runs (122 earned) and striking out 164 batters while walking just 84…he tied for the team lead in wins as a junior and went 1-1 with 1.69 during the Southern Conference tournament on his way to earning All-SoCon tournament honors.
Blake Dockery (2018-19) - The Harrisburg, N.C. native has made an immediate impact in his first season with the CVCC Baseball program, tallying a 6-2 record in 11 starts, including two complete games…Dockery has given up 28 hits, 16 runs (only six earned), 19 walks and struck out 89 batters with a ridiculous 0.92 ERA…twice this season Dockery tied the school record for strikeouts, punching out 14 batters against Pitt Community College on March 2, 2019 and against Southeastern Community College on April 6, 2019…Dockery's two-hit performance on April 27, 2019 helped him earn NJCAA DII Pitcher of the Week honors for games played April 22-28...he was named All-Region 10 first team on May 9, 2019.
Logan Bender (2018-19) - The Dunn, N.C. native has helped re-write the record books in his only season with the CVCC baseball program…Bender's 114 strikeouts so far in 2019 rank as the second most in a Red Hawk career behind only Julian Smith's 180 strikeouts…In 13 appearances and 10 starts, Bender has pitched in 57.2 innings, allowing 33 hits, 17 runs (only five earned) and 15 walks with a microscopic 0.79 ERA…Bender ranks second in wins in a season in program history (7)….He struck out 18 batters on May 4, 2019 against Fayetteville Tech, setting a new program mark for strikeouts in a single game…His 18-strikeout performance helped him earn NJCAA DII Pitcher of the Week honors for games played April 29 through May 5…He was named the Region 10 Pitcher of the Year and All-Region 10 First Team following the regular season…The Triton High School product will continue his playing career this fall at North Carolina State University — becoming the second Red Hawk to sign with a Power Five school.
MANAGER
Dakota McCann (2016-18) - Known by everyone as "D-Mac," the Forbush High School graduate spent three seasons with the Red Hawks after previously serving as a student manager at his high school alma mater and also time working with the Dirtbags Baseball organization...a wealth of knowledge about the game of baseball and its players and coaches throughout the state of North Carolina, McCann graduated from CVCC in the spring of 2018, earning his Associate in Arts degree…even after spending his last season with the program, McCann has remained close with the Red Hawks program and has been seen at many of the team's games, and he still has a goal of becoming a professional baseball scout.