CARMEL, Ind. – Following the 2023 season, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the Baseball major award winners and members of the All-Conference Teams.
Following a stellar senior campaign,
Jonathon LaGuire-Cruz (Lafayette, Ind.) from Franklin College was named the 2023 HCAC Player of the Year in a vote among coaches. LaGuire-Cruz led the league in several statistical categories, including OPS (1.313), runs (35), homeruns (10), total bases (72), and slugging percentage (.828). The outfield also had top-10 league stats in batting average with .391, hits at 34, RBI with 30, stolen bases (15) and on-base-percentage at .485. LaGuire-Cruz started in all 22 of Franklin’s conference contests.
On the mound, it was Hanover College’s
Marcus Goodpaster (Indianapolis, Ind.) who was tabbed as the 2023 HCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Year. The junior pieced together an impressive campaign, going 5-0 in five starts with 41 innings pitched. He was the league leader with a 1.54 ERA, picking up 35 strikeouts in 2023.
Manchester University had a fresh face earn recognition, with
Joel Kennedy (Mooreland, Ind.) voted as the 2023 HCAC Baseball Newcomer of the Year. The first year was a leader at the plate, with a top-10 mark in conference in both batting average (.378) and homeruns (5). He had a OPS of 1.041, started in 16 games, seeing action in 18 conference contests. He racked up 31 hits, 21 RBI, 13 runs, and five doubles. He also had a .622 slugging percentage and a .419 on base percentage.
Bluffton skipper
James Grandey led the Beavers to a third place regular season finish, leading Bluffton back to the postseason. The Beavers amassed a 22-18 regular season record and a 14-8 mark in league play. For his efforts, Grandey was voted as the 2023 HCAC Coach of the Year by his peers.
Player of the Year: Jonathon LaGuire-Cruz, Franklin College
Pitcher of the Year: Marcus Goodpaster, Hanover College
Newcomer of the Year: Joel Kennedy, Manchester University
Coach of the Year: James Grandey, Bluffton University
The HCAC also honors an All-Conference First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention. The members of those teams are selected by a vote of league coaches and are listed below.
For more information on HCAC Softball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.
First Team
| Jake Baumgartner |
Second Base |
Bluffton University |
| Alex Christie |
First Base |
Hanover College |
| Trey Dorton |
Outfield |
Anderson University |
| Jacob Dupps |
Third Base |
Hanover College |
| Dillon Fischer |
Pitcher |
Earlham College |
| Marcus Goodpaster |
Pitcher |
Hanover College |
| Jaden Jaques |
Pitcher |
Bluffton University |
| Joel Kennedy |
Designated Hitter |
Manchester University |
| Jonathan LaGuire-Cruz |
Outfield |
Franklin College |
| Nathan Lancianese |
Outfield |
Earlham College |
| Tysen Lipscomb |
Catcher |
Franklin College |
| Ethan Mason |
Utility |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Maddox Manes |
Relief Pitcher |
Franklin College |
| Justin Reed |
Shortstop |
Anderson University |
| AJ Sanders |
Shortstop |
Franklin College |
| Sean Sullivan |
Outfield |
Franklin College |
| Zach White |
Utility |
Manchester University |
| Jackson Young |
Pitcher |
Franklin College |
Second Team
| Connor Arnold |
Pitchers |
Transylvania University |
| Connor Farnsley |
Designated Hitter |
Hanover College |
| Connor Gordon |
Third Base |
Anderson University |
| Rocco Hanes |
Catcher |
Manchester University |
| Carter Hooks |
Pitcher |
Manchester University |
| Sean Jeffries |
Second Base |
Earlham College |
| Matthew Johnson |
Pitcher |
Franklin College |
| Charlie Jones |
Second Base |
Anderson University |
| Kade Kline |
Outfield |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Andy Krajecki |
Outfield |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Brennan Perry |
Relief Pitcher |
Transylvania University |
| Grahm Reedy |
Outfield |
Anderson University |
| Tyler Smitherman |
First Base |
Anderson University |
| Landen Southern |
Pitcher |
Anderson University |
| Jack Towell |
Shortstop |
Bluffton University |
| Trent Youngblood |
Outfield |
Transylvania University |
Honorable Mention
| Jacob Danneman |
Infield |
Hanover College |
| Max Fries |
Outfield |
Earlham College |
| Justin Maurer |
First Base |
Bluffton University |
| Henry Mitcham |
Infield |
Transylvania University |
| Cohen Nies |
Pitcher |
Defiance College |
| Carter Owen |
Third Base |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Aidan Stevens |
Outfield |
Manchester University |
| Josh Vischer |
DH/ Second Base |
Defiance College |
| Griffin Wolf |
First Base/Outfield |
Anderson University |
| Noah Wood |
Outfield |
Franklin College |
| Michael Yager |
Pitcher |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |