NEW ORLEANS, La. | Alabama State, the top seed from the East Division, had five players named All-Conference and another three taking home major Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) awards announced by the conference office at the pre-tournament banquet Tuesday night.

Senior outfielder Yamil Pagan was named as the co-Player of the Year in the conference as well as the Hitter of the Year. The senior finished the year hitting a team-high .368 with a team-high 71 hits – including 13 home runs – from the lead off position. He also scored 71 runs, good for eighth in the country, and drove in another 50 on the season; all while slugging .632. In conference play, the senior hit .452 with 42 hits – including 10 home runs – while scoring 38 runs. He also drove in 34 runs and finished with an .871 slugging percentage.

Meanwhile, fellow senior Darren Kelly was named the Pitcher of the Year in the conference after coming back from Tommy John surgery to finish the regular season 5-2 with a 3.14 earned run average. The Ocala (Fla.) native started 11 games this, logging 57.1 innings and giving up just 20 earned runs on the season. He also struck out 55 batter to just 16 walks, and opponents hit just .182 on the season against Kelly. In conference competition, the senior finished 4-1 with a 2.92 earned run average with 46 strikeouts (just 12 walks).

Fellow starting pitcher, Ricardo Rivera was named the Freshman of the Year after posting a perfect mark in conference play (6-0). Rivera finished the season 6-3 with a 4.83 earned run average in 11 appearances (nine starts), while logging 54.0 innings. He gave up just 56 hits and 29 earned runs, while striking out 42 hitters on the season.

Joining Pagan and Kelly on the first team all-conference team was Eriq White, as the redshirt junior finished the season hitting .307 with 61 hits – including 18 extra base hits. He finished the season with 13 doubles and scored 51 runs, while knocking in another 37 and slugging .437 hitting behind Pagan. In conference play, White finished the year hitting .384 with 38 hits and 33 runs scored, connecting on seven of his doubles and slugging .505. Sophomore catcher Santiago Garcia was also named to the first team this season as he hit .318 on the year with 24 extra base hits – including a team-high 15 doubles and adding nine home runs. He drove in 57 and scored another 27, while catching every pitch this season behind the plate. In conference play, Garcia hit .323 with six doubles and four home runs.

The lone second team selection for the Hornets, senior outfielder Noel Cheneau, finished the season hitting .335 with 71 hits – tied for team-high honors with Pagan. He connected on nine doubles, four triples and nine home runs for a slugging percentage of .542, while leading the team in stolen bases with 20. Cheneau scored 43 times and knocked in another 58 to lead the team this season. In conference play, the senior hit .408 with 42 hits – including 16 of his extra base hits – and slugged .738.

Alabama State opens tournament play against Prairie View A&M at 3 pm Wednesday afternoon at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

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