GREENSBORO, N.C. — Jakob Thomas was named ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division All-West Region First Team, Nicholas Michaels was named to the second team, and Adam Santa Cruz and Christopher Peres were both named to the third team the American Baseball Coaches Association announced Tuesday.

The 2018 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. III All-Region teams and Regional Players of the Year represent eight regions. The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. III All-America Committee.

Thomas earns All-Region honors for the third straight season and first team honors for the second time. The La Verne Anthony P. Scafani Male Athlete of the Year award winner led the SCIAC with a .535 on-base percentage and .642 slugging percentage. He ranked third in the conference with four triples and finished in the top-10 with 37 RBI and 14 doubles. The graduate student added 49 hits, 54 doubles, and five home runs. 

Michaels makes his way onto the All-Region list for the first time in his career. The senior capped off his time as a Leopard with the best performance of his career. He led the SCIAC in both RBI with 51 and triples with five, ranked second with 67 hits, and finished third with 18 doubles. The first baseman also finished in the top-10 in the SCIAC in slugging (.595) runs (40), batting average (.362)

Peres makes the All-Region list for the second season in a row. The junior was a force for the Leopards on the mound and at the plate. He led the SCIAC with nine saves and ranked third on La Verne's squad with 49 strikeouts. Offensively he added 22 RBI, 47 hits, and 33 runs.

Santa Cruz was a standout in his first season as a Leopard. The Victorville native led the Leopards and ranked second in the SCIAC with a .404 batting average and added 22 RBI, 44 hits, and 24 runs while leading La Verne behind the plate.

ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans will be announced on the evening of Thursday, May 24.

About the ABCA

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 9,600 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. 

About Rawlings

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels.