Shortstop Rashad Ingram (Sr./Savannah, Ga.) of Saint Augustine's College was named 2011 CIAA Baseball Player of the Year Tuesday by the CIAA and the CIAA Baseball Coaches Association.
Ingram headlines eight Falcons who earned All-CIAA baseball honors including six who made first team. First-team selections include pitcher Brandon Stewart (Sr./Riverdale, Ga.), catcher Josh Bishop (Sr./Richmond, Va.), third baseman Alex Howard (Jr./Wilson, N.C.), center fielder Joe Pierce (Sr./Wetumpka, Ala.) and left fielder Wayne Lewis (Jr./Charlotte, N.C.) Second-team picks were utility player Chris Vette (Sr./Hampton, Va.) and second baseman Kevin White (Sr./Dunn, N.C.). The Falcons placed the most players on the All-CIAA teams.
Ingram is the second Falcon in three seasons to win CIAA baseball player of the year. Former standout Anthione Shaw, who also played shortstop, captured the award in 2009.
Ingram was the overwhelming favorite for the league's top individual honor after an eye-popping regular season. A computer information systems major, Ingram is the NCAA Division II leader in runs (66), steals (74) and stolen bases per game (1.48). He is tied for third nationally in base on balls (38), ninth in runs per game (1.32), 18th in on-base percentage (.527), and tied for 13th in hits (65).
“It is an honor to be awarded CIAA Player of the Year,” said Ingram, who leads the Falcons in 12 categories including batting average (.394). “I am very thankful for my teammates and coaches who made it all possible. It has been a long growth for me these past four years, and to end my career as player of the year really feels like a great accomplishment. My main goals of the season are winning the CIAA Championship and going to the regionals, so winning this award is a bonus and a blessing.”
Ingram is the seventh student-athlete from Saint Augustine's College in the 2010-11 season to capture CIAA MVP or rookie honors. Walter Sanders was Offensive Football Player of the Year and Allison Sikes won Women's Basketball Player of the Year. Joel Kindred was Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year and Umeka Benson was Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year while Josh Edmonds and Orolando Duffus were Men's Indoor Track and Field MVPs, respectively.
Stewart, a right-handed pitcher, is 11-2 overall with the 11 wins leading the NCAA Division II in victories. Bishop has a .978 fielding percentage as catcher.
Howard is tied for the team home run lead (3) and bats .302. Lewis and Pierce are fifth (38) and sixth (37) nationally in steals. Vette has a .946 fielding average, mainly as a third baseman, while White bats .298 and has a .918 fielding average.
This is the second All-CIAA honor in the careers of Howard, Bishop, Stewart, Ingram and Pierce. They are instrumental in the Falcons compiling a three-year overall record of 99-48 which includes one CIAA tournament title, two CIAA regular-season crowns, three CIAA Tournament final appearances, three 20-win seasons and two 30-win seasons.
The Falcons (34-16 overall) are the defending league champions. They enter the CIAA Tournament this week as a second seed after finishing 24-4 in the conference. Their opponent is third-seed Winston-Salem State Thursday at 10 a.m. on the campus of Virginia State University.
Ingram will be honored along with the other All-CIAA and All-CIAA rookie members Wednesday on the campus of Virginia State University at 6 p.m.
