Dustin Lawson completed his outstanding four-year career as a pitcher for the Lee University baseball team by being named a NCCAA First Team All-American on Thursday. At the same time Lee first baseman Ben Holland will have another year to build on his resume. The rising senior earned second-team honors.
Lawson, a former standout hurler at Cleveland High School, finished his senior season with an 8-2 record. He recorded a 2.52 earned run average, working in 18 games and 100 innings. The right-hander had 69 strikeouts and walked 27 batters in helping the Flames post a 39-19-1 record (17-13-1 in Gulf South Conference) and a second-place finish in the NCCAA World Series.
“I am really proud for Dustin. This honor represents all his hard work over his five years in our program,” said Lee head coach Mark Brew. “He turned himself into the ace of our staff this year and led us at the start of every weekend. He was a big reason we played for a national championship this year.”
Holland got stronger as the season progressed. The right-handed slugger also excelled around the bag at first base. He finished with a .335 batting average while blasting 12 home runs, 15 doubles and three triples. The Murfreesboro, Tenn. native knocked in 49 runners and completed the season with a .629 slugging mark and a .994 fielding percentage.
“Ben might have been the hottest hitter in the country the last third of the season,” proclaimed Brew. “He was a major run producer for our team and had some huge games for us at the plate. Additionally, Ben was a key cog in a record-breaking defense from his first base position.”
NCCAA 1st Team All-American
Pitcher-Kyle Vail, Southwestern Christian University
Pitcher-Andrew Bergmann, Judson University
Pitcher-Dustin Lawson, Lee University
Pitcher-Wilson Ashford, Fresno Pacific University
Catcher-Brandon Cummings, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Catcher-Zack Jones, Trinity Christian College
1st Base-David Espinoza, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
2nd Base-Luke Rojas, Judson University
Shortstop-Allen Staton, North Greenville College
3rd Base-Florentino Moreno, Arlington Baptist College
Extra Infielder-Ziar Koeiman, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Outfield-Caleb Lang, Cairn University
Outfield-Preston Scott, Fresno Pacific University
Outfield-Carlos Torres, Campbellsville University
Outfield-Tyler Osborn, University of Northwestern
NCCAA 2nd Team All-American
Pitcher-Josh Turner, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Pitcher-Seth Cornell, Houghton College
Pitcher-Brody Harris, Spring Arbor University
Pitcher-Adam Boghosian, North Greenville University
Catchers-Mikal Hunter, McMurry University
Alex Huddleston, Hiwassee College
1st Base-Ben Holland, Lee University
2nd Base-Brian Walker, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Short Stop-Ronnie Stewart, Toccoa Falls College
3rd Base-Drew Johnson, Cedarville University
Extra Infielder-Josh Buczek, Central Baptist College
Outfield- Ryan Wagley, Arlington Baptist College
Outfield- Nate Long, Lancaster Bible College
Outfield- Michael Hyman, Southern Wesleyan University
Outfield- Baron Bower, Fresno Pacific University