By: Curtis Ford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced its 2022 baseball all-conference teams on Tuesday night, and Grambling State University was well represented featuring five all-conference selections, as well as the pitcher of the year and the freshman of the year.
Shemar Page highlighted the GSU selections, being named the 2022 SWAC Pitcher of the Year and landing on the first team. Page proved to be one go the most dominant pitchers in the entire country this season. Page finished the regular season third in the nation in strikeouts this with 136 Ks. Page posted an 8-4 record as a starter and also led the conference in ERA (2.56), Opposing Batting Average (.194). Page was the only pitcher in the conference to hold opposing teams to below .200 in batting average. He also posted four complete games, which ranks no. 2 nationally and also leads the conference.
He threw just the 34th perfect game in NCAA Division I history versus Alcorn State (Apr. 22).
Page was also dangerous at the plate, providing a strong bat for the Tigers batting .327 with 24 RBI, seven doubles, six triples and one home run. He added one stolen base to his tally.
Terry Burrell III earned SWAC Freshman of the Year honors, punctuating a stellar true freshman season in the black and gold. Burrell sported a batting average of .328 with 40 RBI, seven doubles, three triples and one home run. Burrell also scored 60 runs and stole 11 bases. Burrell also had one of the highest fielding percentages on the team, with a .960 fielding percentage.
Joining Page on the first team is John Garcia, Cameron Buford and Jarficur Parker.
Garcia who started 50 of 52 games he played, batting .403 on the year. Garcia led one of the most prolific offensive teams in the SWAC, ranking in the top five in nine different conference batting categories. He ranks second in batting average, slugging percentage (.685) and runs batted in (63). He ranked first on base percentage (.513) and OPS (1.198). His 10 home runs was tied for fourth most in the SWAC and his 17 doubles with landed him in fifth. He also registered two triples and stole four bases.
As the starting catcher, Garcia also threw out 18 runners on stolen base attempts, which also ranks second in the SWAC.
Bufford had a monster year at the plate, showcasing his powerful swing all season for GSU, slugging 12 home runs (2nd in the SWAC) and batting .327. Bufford's 51 RBI ranks seventh in the conference. He also scored 62 runs, which placed him third in the SWAC. The Chicago, Ill. native also notched nine doubles, three triples and stole six bases.
Parker was a key component is GSU's success at the plate this season. Parker immediately contributed, sporting a .332 batting average with 35 RBI, 14 doubles and three home runs. He also scored 54 runs and stole 13 bases.
Redshirt freshman, Trevor Hatton, landed on the second team with very competitive first-team numbers. Hatton slugged nine home runs, the fourth most in the SWAC. He also maintained a batting average of .330 with 55 RBI, 15 doubles, five triples and 56 runs scored. He also was a tough out on the base path, stealing 23 bases in 25 attempts.
Up Next
Grambling State opens the 2022 SWAC baseball tournament versus Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala.
FOLLOW GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /GramblingStateTigers1901 (Facebook), @gramblingathletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
