BIRMINGHAM, Al- Twenty-Eight HBCU baseball players have been named to the Black College Nines' Small School Elite teams for the 2023 season. Three Savannah State University student-athletes made the list.
 
Recognition was also given for Player, Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year, as well as to Sports Information Directors and Service Awards.
 
First and second team selections were made in the Small School Division (made up of NCAA Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) baseball programs).
 
Outfielder Joseph Smith and pitcher Enrico Peele made the First Team while pitcher Jared Showalter earned Second team honors.
 
Smith leads the Tigers in nine categories: batting average (.410), at bats (161), runs (58), hits (66), doubles (11), triples (6), home runs (6), slugging percentage (.651) and stolen bases (25). Peele has a 2.32 earned run average and a 12-1 win/loss record. He has pitched 73.2 innings and struck out 66 batters. Showalter has a 10-2 record to go along with his 3.97 ERA and has struck out 69 batters in 68 innings.
 
Joseph Esparza (Kentucky State University) was Player of the Year, Jeremiah Reddell (Albany State University) is Pitcher of the Year, Hunter Justice (Paine College) is Freshman of the Year and Scot Hemmings (Albany State University) is Coach of the Year.
 
Special Service Awards went to Andrew Glover (Wiley College) who was Sports Information Director of the Year, Cheyenne Striefler (Tyson Foods) for Special Service to the Black College World Series,  Cornelius Calhoun (Black College Championships/Minority Baseball Prospects) for Special Service to HBCU Baseball and Bo Carter (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) for Special Service Promoting HBCU Baseball.
 
Selections were made based upon statistical information, mid-season reports including research provided by Black College Nines and both coaching staffs and their sports information directors. Player, pitcher and coach of the year awards were voted upon by Black College Nines and members of the national media.