Belhaven Baseball’s Wade, Ryan Earn All-Region Honors
JACKSON, Miss. — Belhaven University’s baseball team had two players recognized nationally as John Wade and Parker Ryan earned D3baseball.com All-Region VI honors. Wade was named to the first team as a relief pitcher, while Ryan earned third-team honors behind the plate.
The pair contributed to Belhaven’s 31-15 record and its return to the NCAA Division III Regional, as well as a trip to the CCS Championship Series. The team was ranked as high as No. 4 in the D3baseball.com poll earlier this season.
Wade, a sophomore from Houma, Louisiana, emerged as one of the South Region’s most reliable relievers. He appeared in 16 games out of the bullpen, posting a 1.06 ERA with eight saves in 17 innings. Wade struck out 25 batters and held opponents to a .132 batting average. His eight saves tied for the CCS lead and ranked among Division III’s best totals for much of the season.
Wade delivered in high-pressure moments, including series-clinching wins against LaGrange and during the CCS Tournament. His performance against LaGrange in April, earning his eighth save, ranked second in Division III at the time. Wade also earned First Team All-CCS honors, the first all-conference recognition of his career.
Ryan, a senior catcher from Madison, Mississippi, posted one of the top offensive seasons among CCS catchers. He hit .333 with 48 hits, six doubles, six home runs, and 28 RBIs in 42 games. Ryan’s slugging percentage was .514, and he drew 24 walks for a .446 on-base percentage.
He ranked near the top of multiple offensive categories within the conference and earned First Team All-CCS honors for the first time. Ryan contributed key hits during Belhaven’s run through the CCS Tournament, helping the team advance back to the championship series for the second consecutive year. Defensively, he caught 13 runners stealing and maintained a .986 fielding percentage, supporting a pitching staff that struck out 298 batters this season.
Ryan became a consistent middle-of-the-order presence and helped lead an offense that hit .311 as a team. The senior’s leadership and production were vital to Belhaven’s postseason success.
For updates on Belhaven athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like the team on Facebook. Supporters can also visit Team Green Giving to contribute to Belhaven Athletics.
Source: Original Article
