Seven Harding Baseball Players Honored as All-GAC

SEARCY – Harding baseball had five team members receive 2022 All-Great American Conference Second Team, two Honorable Mention, one All-Defensive Team and four Distinguished Scholar Athletes Friday as the conference released its postseason honors ahead of this weekend's GAC Tournament.

Earning Second Team honors were senior starting pitcher Joel Barker (9-2, 3.56 ERA, 37 K), senior starting pitcher Carter McCall (6-2, 3.42 ERA, 62 K), senior shortstop David Butterfield (.272, 50 R, 12 2B, 31 RBI), senior outfielder Cody Smith (.322, 44 R, 15 2B, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 10 SB) and senior outfielder Chris Witzke (.354, 69 H, 34 RBI).

Freshman relief pitcher Kyle Lane (5-1, 2.53 ERA, 2 Sv) and junior first baseman Coulton Doyle (.291, 14 2B, 11 HR, 47 RBI) earned honorable mention.

Witzke earned his first All-Defensive Team honor as an outfielder. He has only one error in 107 defensive chances this season.

Distinguished Scholar Athlete recipients were Michael Dewald (3.81 GPA, Information Systems), Carter McCall (3.82, Finance), Cody Smith (3.97 GPA, Civil Engineering) and Caleb Stull (3.81, Finance). To earn Distinguished Scholar Athlete, students must have a 3.70 GPA or higher with 70 or more hours.

Harding All-Conference Notes

Harding last had two starting pitchers earn First or Second Team in 2015 when Andrew Fiddler was First Team and Collin Campbell was Second Team.
Harding has had a shortstop earn All-GAC each of the last three seasons … Connor Kelly was Second Team in 2019 and 2021 … prior to Butterfield and Kelly, Harding's last shortstop honored was Bo Whitaker on the Gulf South Conference Second Team in 2008.
Butterfield earned Second Team All-GAC in 2019 as a utility player.
Smith was honorable mention All-GAC last season as an outfielder.
Harding last had two outfielders on the First or Second Team in 2011 when Trent Kinnear was First Team All-GSC and Paul Anzalone was Second Team All-GSC

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Players Mentioned

#12 Connor Kelly: IF; 6' 3"; Fifth Year; R/R

#4 David Butterfield: IF; 5' 11"; Fifth Year; R/R

#8 Michael Dewald: IF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#9 Coulton Doyle: C; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#35 Carter McCall: P; 6' 4"; Senior; R/R

#7 Cody Smith: OF; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#30 Caleb Stull: C; 6' 0"; Fifth Year; R/R

#15 Chris Witzke: OF/P; 5' 10"; Fifth Year; L/L

#3 Joel Barker: P; 6' 0"; Senior; L/R

#13 Kyle Lane: P; 6' 0"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#12 Connor Kelly
: 6' 3"; Fifth Year; R/R
: IF

#4 David Butterfield
: 5' 11"; Fifth Year; R/R
: IF

#8 Michael Dewald
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#9 Coulton Doyle
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: C

#35 Carter McCall
: 6' 4"; Senior; R/R
: P

#7 Cody Smith
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#30 Caleb Stull
: 6' 0"; Fifth Year; R/R
: C

#15 Chris Witzke
: 5' 10"; Fifth Year; L/L
: OF/P

#3 Joel Barker
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/R
: P

#13 Kyle Lane
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R/R
: P