EMU’s baseball team tied a program record today as three players were named to the All-State Teams, as voted on by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). The only other time Eastern Mennonite put three men on the two All-State Teams was 2015.
Outfielder Joe Hall (Gladys, Va./Rustburg) earned an All-State First Team nod for the second time, matching his award from 2015. He won the ODAC Batting Title both years, hitting .423 as a sophomore before ending his career this spring with a .447 clip. He was 11th in D-III in hitting, while his 71 hits led the nation during the regular season. Hall had 40 runs, 32 RBIs, 15 extra-base hits and three homeruns. He also broke the EMU season record with 25 stolen bases. A judicious eye aided Hall’s pesky presence at the plate, as he led the nation with just two strikeouts in 159 at-bats.
Kyle Mathews (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) claimed a First Team spot at first base. The four-year starter finished with career marks across the board, including a .405 batting average, 35 runs, 34 RBIs and 13 doubles. Mathews had a massive power streak with six homeruns in seven games, leading him to a .673 slugging percentage. He was second in the ODAC in both batting and slugging and ended his career on a 24-game hitting streak. Defensively he was also outstanding, holding a .990 fielding percentage.
Both Hall and Mathews were also named All-Region First Team.
Damon Frazier (Waynesboro, Va./Wilson Memorial) made an immediate impact after coming to EMU as a graduate transfer from D-II Concord University. He was voted All-State Second Team to the utility spot. Frazier became the instant ace of the pitching staff, earning a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.92 in 67.2 innings. The right-hander was 11th in the ODAC with 6.65 strikeouts per nine innings. Splitting time at first base, Frazier also had a .352 batting average with 30 RBIs and 20 runs, adding a .985 fielding percentage.
All three of the Royals named to the All-State Teams were also voted All-ODAC last month.
EMU finished 19-20 on the season, earning the second-most wins since 2002. The Royals now have a combined eight All-State honorees in Coach Ben Spotts‘ five seasons.
VaSID names 27 All-State teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.