NEWARK, Del. - - A pair of Wilmington University baseball student-athletes were recognized for their work on the defensive side of the ball this year, earning First Team Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove All-East Region honors.
Senior Josh Hampton (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) anchored the hot corner for the Wildcats (35-11-1 overall) while junior Frank Samluk (Middletown, Del./St. Elizabeth's) pitched, played second base, first base, and even a few games in the outfield. It is the second year Hampton has earned First Team recognition at third base while it is the first year Samluk has been honored defensively as a pitcher.
Hampton started all 47 games at third base for the Wildcats, leading the team with 105 assists while making 31 putouts. He committed only five errors on the season, finishing with a .965 fielding percentage. His ability to defend against the bunt, making numerous bare handed grabs and off balanced throws, have put Hampton on the team the past two seasons.
Samluk appeared in all 47 games for the Wildcats in one capacity of another. He made 11 starts on the mound, appearing in 12 games overall. He pitched a team high 61.1 inning in 2014, going 5-1 with a 2.20 earned run average. He struck out a team high 60 batters while allowing 22 walks. Defensively, Samluk made 174 putouts, adding 46 assists while only making two errors in the field. He only had two base runners steal on him successful all season long, while four runners were gunned down attempting to steal. He finished with a .991 fielding percentage on the year.
It is the third straight year the Wildcats have had at least one student-athlete named Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove All-East Region, after Jordan Oncay (2012) and Hampton (2013) earned First Team honors the past two seasons. Jordan Johnson (2013) also earned Second Team honors as an outfielder.
Hampton and Samluk now have a chance to earned Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove All-American status as all First Team All-Region honorees are automatically nominated for All-American. The All-American teams will be selected during the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C., starting Memorial Day weekend.
AGATE:
2014 Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove All-East Region Teams:
First Team:
C – Tyler Clark, Dominican
1B – Zach Bellinger, Saint Rose
2B – Brett Charbonneau, Le Moyne
3B – Josh Hampton, Wilmington
SS – Eddie Ritch, American International
OF – Mike Muir, Bentley
OF – Billy Karalis, Stonehill
OF – Dan Asselin, American International
P – Frank Samluk, Wilmington
Second Team:
C – Matt Walsh, Franklin Pierce
1B – Jordan Force, Philadelphia
2B – Andrew Johnson, New Haven
3B – Dylan Pastor, Post
SS – Michael Stack, Adelphi
SS – Aaron Brill, Felician
OF – Brendan O'Brien, Southern New Hampshire
OF – Kyle Holland, Southern Connecticut State
OF – Jesse Solar, Bridgeport
P – Brendan O'Rourke, Franklin Pierce