Freshman infielder Frankie Vasquez was voted as the USA South Conference Baseball Rookie of the Year, while three Brevard College baseball student-athletes were selected to the USA South West Division Second Team.
Vasquez, becomes the second consecutive Tornado to secure Rookie of the Year honors from the USA South with BC outfielder Logan Clark earning the honor in 2021.
Vasquez was joined by junior infielder Blake Burchett and freshman infielder Cale Oehler on the West Division Second Team, while senior outfielder Jack Atkinson was nominated to the All-Sportsmanship Team.
Vasquez compiled a .358 batting average, a .427 on-base percentage, and a .496 slugging percentage while scoring 23 runs with 33 RBI, eight doubles, three home runs, and three stolen bases in his stellar freshman campaign. Against USA South opposition, Vasquez finished with a .313 batting average, a .382 on-base percentage, and a .433 slugging percentage with 11 runs scored, 19 RBI, five doubles, one home run, and three stolen bases. For his play this spring, Vasquez was named Second Team All-West Division at third base and USA South Rookie of the Week five times.
Burchett, was one of the top threats in the country on the base paths over the course of his first season at Brevard College. Burchett led the country for much of the 2022 campaign in stolen bases, finishing with 36 to place him third in all of NCAA DIII baseball as of May 11. Burchett’s 36 stolen bases are the second-most in a single season in Brevard’s NCAA history, just three behind former New York Mets MLB draft pick Champ Stuart (39, 2013). Burchett set the school NCAA-era record for on-base percentage (.509), while maintaining a team-best .383 average with a .444 slugging percentage, totaling a team-high 51 hits and 43 runs scored. Burchett also drew 26 walks in 2022 to help the junior infielder get on base in more than half of his at-bats.
Oehler, burst on the scene in his first collegiate season, winning three-consecutive USA South Rookie of the Week accolades. Oehler hit for a .333 average with a .430 on-base percentage and a team-high .533 slugging percentage, totaling 40 hits, 22 runs scored, and 38 RBIs. Oehler led all Tornados with 16 extra-base hits, including 12 doubles and four home runs.
Atkinson, cemented his status as one of the top defensive outfielders in the USA South, capping his Tornado career with a 1.000 fielding percentage in center field with 98 putouts and seven outfield assists. Atkinson’s senior season was highlighted by several web gem plays, including a robbed home run vs. No. 4 LaGrange College. Over the course of his four-year playing career at Brevard, Atkinson totaled 246 putouts and added 10 outfield assists, turning four double plays from the center field position with a career .973 fielding percentage.
Brevard capped off one of its most successful seasons in the NCAA era in 2022, winning 21 games overall for the program’s first 20+ win season since 2012. BC’s 13 home victories at Gil Coan Field are its second-most in the NCAA era. Brevard ranked top-10 nationally as a team with 116 stolen bases and set program NCAA era team records for on-base percentage (.413), fewest strikeouts (238), sacrifice flies (25), stolen bases (116), and team fielding percentage (.959).