2015 NJCAA Division I All-Region XI Teams
Seven players from the Marshalltown Community College baseball team have earned NJCAA Division I All-Region XI honors, including three players named to the second-team.
Sophomore Anderson Villarroel (Caracas, Venezuela/U.E. Santisima Caridad) joined freshmen Logan Holtz (Urbana, IA/Center Point-Urbana) and Bennett Lopez (Dorado, PR/PRBA) on the second-team while sophomore Pedro Lopez (Naples, FL/Naples) and freshmen Kolton Gonnerman (Centerville, IA/Centerville), Engel Rosario (Santo Domingo, DR/Cenapec), and Thomas Sanchez (Onalaska, WI/Holmen) were selected to the Honorable Mention team.
Bennett Lopez led the Tigers in a multitude of offensive categories throughout the year, posting a team-best .343 batting average. The freshman's .407 on-base percentage, 62 hits, and 12 stolen bases all topped MCC's lineup. Lopez was the only Tiger to appear in all 53 games, primarily as an infielder. The freshman was named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Player of the Week on April 22.
After missing the previous two seasons at MCC, Villarroel made a return to the Tiger lineup and posted a .324 batting average, second on the team. The sophomore's team-high 43 runs ranked seventh in the ICCAC. Villarroel collected 58 hits on the year to finish with 81 for his career.
Holtz earned his way into the MCC starting lineup early in the season and never looked back. The freshman ranked fourth on the team with a .305 batting average, but went for a .325 average in conference play. Holtz delivered four home runs on the year. The freshman toggled between the outfield and infield on the year and recorded 50 hits, including a team-best 16 extra base knocks.
Pedro Lopez completed his MCC campaign with a strong year at the plate as the sophomore ranked third on the team with a .309 batting average. Lopez produced 43 hits on the year, giving him 72 in his MCC career. Lopez utilized his glove between second base, third base, and shortstop during the season.
Despite a season-ending injury, Gonnerman was able to provide valuable outings on the mound for MCC. The rookie went 3-2 on the year with a 3.07 earned run average. Gonnerman struck out 31 batters in 29.1 innings. In his final three starts of the year, Gonnerman allowed just three earned runs.
Rosario led MCC with seven home runs on the year, tied for second-best in the ICCAC. The freshman's .492 slugging percentage topped MCC while his 29 RBI ranked third.
Sanchez emerged as the top reliever out of the bullpen for the Tigers as the southpaw posted a team-best 1.61 earned run average on the year. Sanchez appeared in 18 games, working 22.1 innings and giving up just four earned runs. The freshman struck out 20 batters while posting a 1-1 record. Sanchez's three saves led the team.