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3 Pios named preseason All-American

Courtesy photo Marietta College’s Sam Mathews gets ready to deliver a pitch during a college baseball game last season at Don and Sue Schaly Field at Pioneer Park.

Marietta College had three players named to the D3baseball.com Preseason All-America Team announced Tuesday morning. Outfielder Turner Hill was a first team selection, pitcher Sam Mathews earned second team honors, while first baseman Drew Holderbach was a third team honoree.

Hill started all 44 games in right field for the Etta Express this season spending most of the spring in the leadoff spot in the batting order. Hill, the Ohio Athletic Conference Bob Fisher Player of the Year, batted .449 and led the Pioneers with 30 multiple-hit games, including 13 games with three or more base hits.

The NCAA Division III leader in hits and runs scored with 88 and 67, respectively, Hill finished the season with 18 doubles, three triples, one home run and 32 runs batted in. The senior right fielder led the OAC with 30 stolen bases and was second with a .515 on base percentage.

Mathews was the workhorse of the Pioneer pitching staff appearing in 24 games, including three starts. The right-hander was 8-3 with a 1.47 earned run average and eight saves. He led the OAC in earned run average and saves and was second in the conference with 84 strikeouts and eight wins.

With just six walks issued in 73.1 innings pitched, Mathews ranks among the NCAA Division III leaders in fewest walks per nine innings at 0.74. Opposing batters hit just .195 against Mathews and managed only five extra base hits, three doubles and two triples, against the junior.

Holderbach batted in the middle of the Pioneer lineup and was a Gold Glove first baseman on Marietta’s record-setting defense. He batted .371 with 16 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 55 runs batted in.

Holderbach led the OAC and ranked among the national leaders in runs batted in. The converted middle infielder played flawless defense this spring committing zero errors in the field. The Etta Express fielded .977 as a team breaking the school single season record of .975 previously held by the 1994 team.

Marietta is coming off a 38-6 season that saw the Etta Express win the OAC regular season and tournament championships and advance to the NCAA Regional championship game. The Etta Express opens the 2022 season at the D3 Showcase in North Carolina February 25-26.

Marietta’s Priest earns OAC honor

WESTERVILLE — Marietta College senior Annie Priest was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Week Monday afternoon by the conference office. This is the second straight week Priest has earned the honor.

Priest led the Pioneer women to a third-place finish in the Marietta Open last week against a field comprised of NCAA Division II and NAIA teams.

Priest broke her own school record in the weight throw by more than a foot with a winning toss of 16.42m (53′ 10“). Her winning throw ranks eighth in NCAA Division III this season. Priest also placed second in the shot put with a mark of 11.46m (37′ 7.25”).

Marietta College is back in action on Saturday when the Pioneers host the Pioneer Invitational in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center. Field events start at 10 a.m. and racing begins at 11:30 a.m.

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