KALAMAZOO, Mich. - In a year highlighted by a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament championship and the program's first appearance in an NCAA Regional, two of the Hornet baseball players who played an instrumental role in the team's success in 2016 were honored with All-Region honors Monday.
Third baseman Jack Clark and starting pitcher Ryan Orr were each named to the All-Mideast Second Team by d3baseball.com.
Clark, who provided a consistent presence for the Hornets in the middle of their lineup, played in all 45 games for Kalamazoo in 2016 while batting .362 and recording 54 hits, both team-highs. Clark boasted an on base percentage of .495 and proved to be dangerous on the base path stealing 11 bags.
His 30 runs batted in tied a team-high and he struck out just 19 times over the course of the season.
Clark, a junior from Ann Arbor, Mich., was named to the MIAA's First Team for the second consecutive season. This is the first time in his career he's receiving regional recognition.
Orr, who was the Hornets' ace all season long, started 12 games for Kalamazoo and recorded an outstanding earned run average of 1.99 while going 8-4. In a total of 90.1 innings of work, he struck out 77 batters while walking just 14.
A sophomore from DeWitt, Mich., Orr threw eight complete games, three more than any other pitcher in the MIAA and also played a key relief role at times for the Hornets. He recorded three saves in four appearances out of the bullpen.
Orr's season was highlight by a no-hitter against Olivet on April 23.
This is Orr's first regional honor in his young career. He, also, was named to the MIAA's First Team two weeks ago.