MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (May 2, 2018) â€" A pair of Elizabethton natives highlighted the Milligan College baseball team's 2018 Appalachian Athletic Conference postseason awards. Freshman pitcher Garrett Hartley earned the AAC Freshman of the Year honor while senior catcher Thomas Miller earned AAC All-Conference second team distinction, announced the league Wednesday night.
 
Additionally, senior Jascanel Ferreras was named to the AAC Gold Glove Team in left field, senior Hunter Suggs was named to the AAC Champions of Character Team, and seven Buffs were named to the AAC Academic All-Conference team. Isaac Barkley, Dustin Cole, William Oliver, Andrew Smith, Bryan Soto, Juan Vasquez and Jake Weaver were the Academic All-Conference recipients.
 
HARTLEY'S NUMBERS
Hartley, from Elizabethton, made 11 starts and pitched 53.1 innings in his first collegiate season. He had a team best ERA of 3.88 while posting five wins, 62 strikeouts and a complete game shutout. At the end of the regular season, Hartley ranked No. 26 nationally in total hits allowed (43). Within the AAC Hartley ranked in the top three in opposing team batting average (.228) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.46).
 
MILLER'S NUMBERS
Miller, also from Elizabethton and the other side of Milligan's battery during many of Harley's starts, was the Buffs' hitting leader this season. With a .358 average, Miller ranked in the top 10 in hitting in the AAC while knocking in 17 RBI's this season. Miller recorded 11 multihit games, including a three-hit game in an AAC matchup versus St. Andrews and a four-hit game early in the season against USC Beaufort.
 
FERRERAS'S DEFENSE
Ferreras was rated the top left fielder in the league defensively. The senior made only one error at the position while making two outfield assists.
 
ALL-ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
To be eligible for the AAC Academic All-Conference team, each candidate must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved sophomore or higher academic status.