GREENSBORO, NC – The 2019 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-Region Teams have been were announced Wednesday. From the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team, juniors Matthew Clarke and Matt McDermott have been named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-South Central Region First Team. It becomes the first time in the program's short history that a Mountain Lion has been named to first team, as Zach Hall received second team honors in 2018.

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.

A junior transfer from American River Community College, Clarke came in to start 49 out of the 52 games at second base for the 2019 season. The Sacramento, Calif. native has boasted a .378 batting average and notched a team high 76 hits and 20 doubles from the leadoff spot. Clarke set a new program record for most doubles in a single season, as he ranks tied for the third most doubles in the RMAC and is tied for the fifth most hits in the conference. Not only an offensive threat, Clarke got the job done in the field as well with the eighth most assists in the conference (114), and maintained a .966 fielding percentage. With the ABCA/Rawlings All-South Central selection, Clarke adds to an impressive list of accomplishments this season that includes D2CCA All-Region Second Basemen and All-RMAC First Team.

Matt McDermott completes the middle infield sweep for ABCA/Rawlings All-South Central First Team with career high numbers on both sides of the ball. The junior shortstop was the only Mountain Lions to start every game in 2019, as he batted a team high .384 from the ninth spot in the lineup. McDermott's batting average ranks as the 10^th highest in the RMAC, as he went on to hit 29 extra base hits, 18 of which were doubles and ranks the sixth most in conference. The Aurora, Colo. native also led the team in runs scored with 48 as McDermott drove in 42 RBI on the season. From the shortstop position, McDermott tallied a conference high 184 assists as he fielded 27 double plays, which ranks seventh in the RMAC. His team high .968 fielding percentage helped him earn RMAC Gold Glove Team honors on top of D2CCA All-Region Shortstop, All-RMAC First Team, and RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll.

ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Americans will be announced the evening of Friday, May 31. The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams for all divisions will be announced Wednesday, June 19.