The 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region teams and Regional Players of the Year have been announced in all eight regions. The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee. Lee University baseball player, Freshman Malachi Cloud, was named to the American Baseball Coaches First Team All-South Region as an outfielder
Malachi Cloud had a strong year as a freshman. He hit .400 this season going 42-for-110 from the plate.
Of his 44 hits, ten were home runs and nine were doubles. He had 31 runs batted in He is slugged a team best .755 His on-base percentage was at .489. He was 29-for-31 in stolen base attempts. He has also scored 42 runs. He has a walkoff home run to beat Montevallo, and a walkoff on a wild pitch to beat Union. He was named freshman of the week three times this season.
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University. Also on the committee are Randy Betten (Cal Poly Pomona), Jamie Detillion, Jim Gantt (Catawba College), Rick Giannetti (Dominican College), Dave Hajek (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs), Alex Koch (Wayne State College) and Joe Spano (Mercyhurst University).
The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-America teams will be announced the evening of Friday, June 2 immediately following the Opening Banquet at the 2023 NCAA Div. II World Series in Cary, North Carolina. First Team All-Region selections are eligible for All-America honors.
The ABCA Region All-Defensive teams for all divisions will be announced on Monday, June 19. The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams for all divisions will be announced on Wednesday, June 21.
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 40 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.