ATLANTA, Ga. | Alabama State University Head Baseball Coach Jose Vazquez, pitcher Omar Melendez and catcher Jamal George brought home three of the SWAC's top baseball postseason honors announced at the SWAC Awards Banquet on Tuesday. Overall, two Hornets earned All-SWAC First-Team three were named to the All-SWAC Second-Team. 
 
Vazquez was named the SWAC's Coach of the Year, Melendez is the Pitcher of the Year and George is the Freshman of the Year.  

Randy Flores joins Melendez on the SWAC First-Team while McIntosh and Matos joined George on the All-SWAC Second-Team. 

Vazquez earns Coach of the Year honors for the second time, last earning the honor in 2018. Vazquez has led the Hornets to the most regular season wins in school history with 39 and has 199 career wins heading into the SWAC Tournament. His Hornets are bidding to become the first team in ASU history to win 40 games in a season and are coming off the second straight SWAC East Division Title. The Hornets rank 1st or 2nd in 18 SWAC statistical categories. ASU's .328 batting average is second in the NCAA and the 654 hits is 4th in the NCAA.

Melendez has been the Friday starter in 2023 and has been selected the SWAC Pitcher of the Week four times. Melendez leads the SWAC in ERA (2.59/25th NCAA), wins (11/1st NCAA), and complete games (4/2nd NCAA). He is third in the SWAC in strikeouts (92), and second in WHIP (1.18). Melendez is fourth in games started (41/20th NCAA), and fifth strikeouts-to-walk ratio (3.68). Melendez has posted double-digit strikeouts four times including a career-high  12 vs. MVSU. He recorded 11 against Grambling State and 10 against Lindenwood, and Bethune-Cookman. 

George has been the starter behind the plate for the Hornets in 53 of 54 games this season. George has recorded 17 multi-hit games including five three-plus hit outings and 12 two-hit outings. He has 10 multi-RBI games including three, three RBI games. He has only eight passed balls (3rd fewest in the SWAC) in 469.1 innings behind the plate and has thrown out 13 potential base stealers (5th SWAC). His .990 fielding percentage is 10th in the SWAC. 

Flores has been the Hornets' leadoff hitter while starting all 55 games at second base. Flores leads the SWAC in stolen bases (37/2nd NCAA), hits (79), and sac flies (10/1st NCAA). He ranks third as the toughest to strikeout (14.2/12th NCAA), and stolen bases per game (0.67/9th NCAA). Flores is sixth in the league in RBI (54), seventh in walks (38), fourth  in runs scored (58), and 14th in batting average (.348). Flores has 11 multi-hit games, seven three-hit games, and 23 multi-RBI games.

Matos has started all 55 games in center field. He s tied for third in the SWAC in doubles (18), ninth in slugging percentage (.608), third in runs scored (60), fifth in walks (41), seventh in hit by a pitch (12)

McIntosh has been the mainstay at shortstop and has served in a dual role as a pitcher. McIntosh has 21 multi-hit games with four hits against Purdue Ft. Wayne and Mississippi Valley State. He has 10 games with multiple RBI that included driving in four runs at Bethune-Cookman and Miss. Valley State.  McIntosh is 10th in the SWAC with two saves and is 3-3 on the mound in eight starts. He recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts against Lindenwood.

Alabama State opens play in the 2023 SWAC Baseball Tournament against Prairie View A&M on Wednesday at 3 p.m. (ET)/2 p.m. (CT).

Coach of the Year
Jose Vazquez, Alabama State
 
Player/Hitter of the Year
Daalen Adderley, Texas Southern
 
Pitcher of the Year
Omar Melendez, Alabama State
 
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Joan Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Freshman of the Year
Jamal George, Alabama State
 
Newcomer of the Year
Hylan Hall, Bethune-Cookman
 
All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Ty Hanchey, Florida A&M
1B – Keylon Mack, Grambling State
2B – Randy Flores, Alabama State
3B – Cameron Bufford, Grambling State
SS – CJ Castillo, Texas Southern
DH – Alexander Olivo, Texas Southern
OF – Daalen Adderley, Texas Southern
OF – Hylan Hall, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Trevor Hatton, Grambling State
SP – Omar Melendez, Alabama State
SP – Nolan Santos, Bethune-Cookman
RP – Joan Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Jamal George, Alabama State
1B – O'Neill Burgos, Southern
2B – Kyle Walker, Grambling State
3B – Ty Hill, Jackson State
SS – Kyler McIntosh, Alabama State
DH – Sebastian Greico, Florida A&M
OF – Ty Jackson, Florida A&M
OF – Janmikell Bastardo, Florida A&M
OF – Ian Matos, Alabama State
SP – Hunter Viets, Florida A&M
SP – Abraham Deleon, Texas Southern
RP – Erick Gonzalez, Jackson State