2022 ABCA All-Region Teams

RICHMOND, Ky. – Two Colonels were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division I Midwest All-Region Teams.
 
Reliever Will Brian was a first team all-region selection.  Outfielder Kendal Ewell picked up second team all-region honors.  The ABCA Midwest Region includes 37 programs from the states of Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
 
Brian was chosen as a third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and is a finalist for the 17th National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award.  The Brandenburg, Kentucky native went 3-0 in 2022 with a 1.83 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 39 and one-third innings pitched.  The redshirt junior allowed only eight runs and 16 hits all season.
 
The redshirt junior broke EKU's single season saves record of 12.  He was first in the ASUN in appearances (31) and third in strikeouts among pitchers who did not start a game.  Brian made five appearances against RPI top-100 teams, including No. 2 Tennessee, without allowing a hit or a run and striking out nine in five and one-thirds innings.  He was the first team ASUN All-Conference pick at relief pitcher.
 
Ewell was a First Team All-ASUN outfielder and one of 31 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which is given each year to the top amateur baseball player in the country.  D1Baseball.com ranked Ewell as the No. 1 prospect in the ASUN for the 2022 MLB Draft and as the 34th best outfielder in the nation.  The Calumet City, Illinois native hit .361 with 10 doubles, 14 home runs, 51 RBIs and 55 runs scored.  He had 11 steals, posted a .607 slugging percentage and a .482 on-base percentage.  Ewell was fourth in the ASUN in on-base percentage, sixth in slugging, tied for sixth in walks (40), seventh in hitting, tied for seventh in hits (79), ninth in runs, tied for 10th in home runs, tied for 15th in RBIs and tied for 20th in steals.  The sophomore had the 37th best on-base percentage in the nation. 
 
Despite being picked to place eighth overall in the ASUN Preseason Poll, Eastern Kentucky finished the season 38-20, champions of the ASUN West Division and tied for the best conference record in the ASUN.  It's the most wins for an EKU team since the 1990 squad won 42 games.  The Colonels won all three of their games in pool play to earn a spot in the ASUN Tournament semifinals.