ATLANTA, Ga. | Alabama State University outfielder Ali LaPread and first baseman brought home two of the SWAC's top baseball postseason honors announced at the SWAC Awards Banquet on Tuesday. Overall, four Hornets earned All-SWAC honors.


LaPread was named the SWAC's Player of the Year and is the fourth Hornet to SWAC Player of the Year honors under Head Coach Jose Vazquez. LaPread has started in 53 games in right field, hitting .328 with 71 runs scored (1st SWAC/15th NCAA), 13 doubles, 13 home runs (1st SWAC), and 39 RBI. He has also walked a league-leading 53 times (13th NCAA). 

Cruz became the second Hornet in as many seasons and fourth overall to be named the SWAC's Freshman of the Year. The Apopka, Fla., native has played in 44 games with 37 starts, hitting .389 (2ndSWAC/33 NCAA) with 10 doubles, eight home runs, and 51 RBI (3rdSWAC). His .605 slugging percentage is seventh in the SWAC.  

Cruz, LaPread, and Randy Flores nabbed SWAC first-team honors while junior shortstop Kyler McIntosh was named to the second team. 

Flores ranks in the top 10 in the SWAC in eight categories, leading the conference in hits (74), hits per game (1.42), and toughest to strikeout (11.2). His 31 stolen bases rank third in the SWAC and 16th nationally and his .60 stolen bases per game are fourth in the SWAC and 19th in the NCAA. Flores has four triples (4th SWAC) and is hitting .347 (16th SWAC), nine home runs (T4th SWAC), 53 runs scored (8thSWAC), and 42 RBI. 

McIntosh has started in 48 games at shortstop or first base. The Columbus, Ind., native is batting .307 with 14 doubles, four home runs and 38 RBI. 

Alabama State is 1st or 2nd in eight offensive categories. The Hornets are 1st in batting average (.323/5th NCAA), doubles (113/35th NCAA), doubles per game (2.22/31st NCAA), home runs per game (), hits, hits per game (558/11th NCAA), home runs (56), home runs per game (1.12). Bama State is 2nd in runs (558) and 4th in scoring (7.7).

Alabama State opens play in the 2024 SWAC Baseball Tournament against Grambling State on Wednesday at noon (ET)/11 a.m. (CT).
 
All-SWAC Baseball Teams and Individual Award Winners

Co-Coach of the Year
Jamey Shouppe, Florida A&M
 
Co-Coach of the Year
Michael Robertson, Texas Southern
 
Player of the Year
Ali LaPread, Alabama State
 
Hitter of the Year
Edwin DeLaCruz, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
Pitcher of the Year
Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
 
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Pablo Torres, Bethune-Cookman
 
Freshman of the Year
Juan Cruz, Alabama State
 
Newcomer of the Year
Tanner Boccabello, Bethune-Cookman
 
All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Edwin DeLaCruz, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
1B – Juan Cruz, Alabama State
2B – Randy Flores, Alabama State
3B – Cameron Bufford, Grambling State
SS – CJ Castillo, Texas Southern
DH – Jose Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Ali LaPread, Alabama State
OF – Tiger Borom, Grambling State
OF – Ty Jackson, Florida A&M
SP – Tanner Boccabello, Bethune-Cookman
SP – Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
RP – Pablo Torres, Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Broedy Poppell, Florida A&M
1B – Manny Souffrain, Bethune-Cookman
2B – True Fontenot, Florida A&M
3B – Adam Haidermota, Florida A&M
SS – Kyler McIntosh, Alabama State
DH – Myles White, Jackson State
OF – Janmikell Bastardo, Florida A&M
OF – Jordan McCladdie, Jackson State
OF – Michael Burroughs, Prairie View A&M
SP – Mason Martinez, Grambling State
SP – Ranard Grace, Southern
RP – Christian Womble, Jackson State