Lindenwood Baseball Team Shines in OVC Awards
The Lindenwood baseball team has had a standout season, earning recognition with six players landing spots on the OVC All-Conference Teams. Notably, Will Geary clinched the OVC Freshman of the Year title, and Josh Newell made it to the First Team for the second straight year.
Josh Newell, a senior pitcher, had a fantastic year. He ended with a 6-5 record and a 2.51 ERA, leading the league with 93.1 innings pitched. Newell also struck out 58 batters. His impressive performance included two shutout games, earning him the OVC Pitcher of the Week twice.
Joining him on the Second Team is Seth Benes, who dominated with an ERA of 2.33 and 75 strikeouts in 85 innings. He effectively limited hitters to a .205 average, showing his strength on the mound. After a stellar outing against St. Thomas, where he didn’t allow any runs, he was rightly named OVC Pitcher of the Week.
The All-Freshman team featured a remarkable four players from Lindenwood, including the acclaimed Will Geary. Geary switched from second base to shortstop this season and played every game. Leading the team in key offensive stats, he posted a batting average of .321, with 69 hits and 27 stolen bases—the second-highest in the conference.
Geary is the second straight Lindenwood player to win the OVC Freshman of the Year honor, following Charlie Isom-McCall.
Alongside Geary, Lucas Niemeyer made the All-Freshman team as a left-handed pitcher. With a 4.38 ERA over 61.2 innings and participation in three of the team’s shutouts, Niemeyer showed promise, earning his first win against SEMO.
Sam Driscoll also earned a spot on the All-Freshman team. He had a solid season batting .274 with 20 RBIs, and stepped up during conference play. He even earned OVC Player of the Week honors for a remarkable series at Morehead State.
Owen Ralph, another talented freshman, contributed significantly at both second and third base. He posted a .278 batting average during the regular season, proving essential to the team’s offense.
As Lindenwood prepares for the postseason, they’ll face UT Martin in the OVC Baseball Championship. It’s an exciting time for the team, as they look to build on their successful season and make a run for the title.
This recognition aligns with a broader trend in collegiate sports, where talented freshmen increasingly make a significant impact on their teams. According to a recent NCAA report, freshman players accounted for nearly 25% of game starts across all sports last year, showcasing the importance of youth talent in college athletics.
For more insights into college athletics and recent trends, you can explore the NCAA’s official site here.
