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Matt McClain
Antonio Morano Photography
Ace Matt McClain is the Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year. (File Photo)

Baseball RattlerAthletics.com

McClain headlines All-Conference selections as Pitcher of the Year

By Robin Johnson | St. Mary's Athletics Communications 

SAN ANTONIO — Matt McClain certainly earned his keep as the Rattlers' No. 1.
 
The ace was named the Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year, headlining No. 21 St. Mary's Baseball's eight All-Conference selections, it was announced today.
 
McClain's Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year coupled his All-Conference First Team selection after he charted an 8-2 record on the year with the nation's 22nd-best ERA at 1.69.
 
Joining McClain on the All-Conference First Team included fellow seniors No. 3 pitcher Cody Butler (Sr., Baytown, Texas), shortstop Derek Hamilton (RS-Sr., Lake Jackson, Texas) and outfielder Brooks Orton (Sr., Cedar Park, Utah).
 
Named All-Conference Second Team included No. 2 pitcher Kris Gardner (Sr., Coppell, Texas), first baseman Bryce Brandl (RS-Fr., El Campo, Texas), and outfielders AJ Perez (Jr., Alice, Texas) and Scott Jones (Sr., College Station, Texas).
 
All eight All-Conference Rattlers helped the Snakes control the Heartland Conference this season as they earned the right to host the Heartland Conference Championship Tournament and a share of the regular-season title while enjoying a national ranking throughout the majority of the season.
 
For standout McClain (San Antonio), who is also a semifinalist for the D2 Baseball News Brett Tomko D-II National Pitcher of the Year award, his Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year honor is the program's eighth Pitcher of the Year since the 2004 season.
 
McClain led the conference in ERA among starting pitchers as well as opponent batting average at .193, recording a team-high five complete games with a total of three shutouts.
 
McClain aided the pitching staff in leading the league in ERA along with No. 2 and No. 3 aces and All-Conference selectees Butler and Gardner who both shared the conference's lead in victories at 10 apiece. Butler's and Gardner's 10 victories on the season is currently No. 5 in the nation as both are one victory shy of the nation's lead.
 
All-Conference First Team selectees Brooks and Hamilton also enjoyed banner seasons as Brooks earned his second straight All-Conference selection while Hamilton exploded in a comeback season after missing 97 games due to injury.
 
Highlights of Brooks' season included going 18-18 in stolen base attempts and a team-high 87 total bases with the team's second-best bating average at .363 as the team's second-RBI leader with 41 as the leadoff man while Hamilton's season included 20 multiple-hit games, a 10-game hitting streak and a team-high 143 assists.
 
On the All-Conference Second Team's showcase, selectee Brandl had quite the breakout year for the Snakes, batting .322 with 25 RBIs and a team-high five home runs, quickly becoming a starter and key contributor early into the season.
 
Outfielders Perez and Jones also lit up for StMU to earn their All-Conference Second Team selections with Jones leading the Snakes in batting average a .366 with eight doubles and three triples while Perez recorded a .339 batting average while leading the team in runs scored at 44 and triples with four.
 
The Snakes' eight All-Conference honorees including Pitcher of the Year McClain have led the team to a 36-12 record and a No. 1 seed in the league's postseason tournament.
 
The Rattlers open the Heartland Conference Tournament at 5 p.m. Thursday, facing No.4-seeded UA Fort Smith at Dickson Stadium.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Derek Hamilton

#3 Derek Hamilton

SS
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Scott Jones

#2 Scott Jones

OF
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Matt McClain

#24 Matt McClain

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Brooks Orton

#9 Brooks Orton

OF/RHP
6' 1"
Senior
L/R
AJ Perez

#6 AJ Perez

OF
5' 10"
Junior
L/R
Cody Butler

#13 Cody Butler

LHP
6' 4"
Senior
L/L
Bryce Brandl

#18 Bryce Brandl

LHP/OF
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
L/L
Kris Gardner

#19 Kris Gardner

LHP
6' 4"
Senior
L/L

Players Mentioned

Derek Hamilton

#3 Derek Hamilton

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
SS
Scott Jones

#2 Scott Jones

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
OF
Matt McClain

#24 Matt McClain

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Brooks Orton

#9 Brooks Orton

6' 1"
Senior
L/R
OF/RHP
AJ Perez

#6 AJ Perez

5' 10"
Junior
L/R
OF
Cody Butler

#13 Cody Butler

6' 4"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Bryce Brandl

#18 Bryce Brandl

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
L/L
LHP/OF
Kris Gardner

#19 Kris Gardner

6' 4"
Senior
L/L
LHP

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