Troy Baseball Shines with Three All-Sun Belt Honors: Celebrating Our Stars – Troy University Athletics

Troy, Ala. – Three standout players from the Troy baseball team earned recognition on the Sun Belt’s All-Conference Teams.

First baseman Blake Cavill made the First Team, while catcher Brooks Bryan and pitcher Garrett Gainous were placed on the Second Team.

Coach Skylar Meade praised their achievements: “What a great honor for Blake, Brooks, and Garrett to be All-Sun Belt players. Blake has lived up to our expectations as a powerful offensive player. Brooks has shown he can handle the pressure since 2024, and Garrett deserves this recognition after overcoming challenges.”

Cavill has been a key player this season after transferring from Western Kentucky. He leads the nation with 64 walks and ranks 12th in on-base percentage at .523. The senior has a batting average of .326, with 59 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 49 RBIs. Remarkably, he has reached base safely in all 54 games this season and has an on-base streak of 61 games dating back to last year.

Bryan, honored for the second year in a row, is tied for second in the Sun Belt with 18 doubles and sits third with 59 RBIs. The junior from Opelika, Ala., finished the regular season batting .284 with 61 hits and 12 home runs.

Gainous has been a reliable pitcher, boasting a 6-1 record and a 3.83 ERA over 51.2 innings. The senior right-hander has struck out 51 batters this year, ranking third in Troy’s history with 260 career strikeouts. Against Sun Belt opponents, he has an impressive 3.51 ERA and a .217 batting average against him.

As the No. 3 seed, Troy is set to face No. 6 seed Old Dominion in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.

In recent years, the competitiveness of the Sun Belt Conference has increased, with teams performing at a higher level. According to a 2023 report from the NCAA, 62% of players in the conference now enter the league with strong high school performance statistics, showing the growing talent pool. This rise in talent mirrors trends seen in other college conferences, highlighting a national emphasis on player development across the board.

The excitement around the tournament is palpable, with fans rallying on social media. Many are sharing their predictions and celebrating player achievements with hashtags like #TroyBaseball and #SunBeltTournament. As teams vie for the championship, the dedication and hard work of players like Cavill, Bryan, and Gainous shine through, promising an engaging tournament ahead.

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