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Base SSAC Awards

Baseball

Franco Named Freshmen of the Year, Tornadoes Earn SSAC Honors

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Talladega College baseball team exceeded preseason expectations and earned several honors during the Southern States Athletic Conference Baseball banquet. Dega's Lazaro Jose Franco was named the 2023 Freshman of the Year, among other team recognition.
 
Franco, a native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, notched a 6-3 record in 12 starts and 13 appearances during the regular season. Also named to the 2023 Second Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team, the pitcher has amassed a team-leading 58 strikeouts and 1.44 WHIP in 62 innings of work. He has a 4.50 ERA and held opponents to a .286 batting average.
 
Wander Arias was named First Team All-SSAC at the designated hitter position. The Aragua, Venezuela import led the team in RBIs (36), doubles (12), and total hits (60). Arias also posted a .368 batting average, six home runs, 42 runs, 23 walks, and six stolen bases. The junior was named to the Champions of Character Team alongside his All-Conference accolades.
 
Miguel Oropeza earned Second Team honors after leading Dega with a .383 batting average. The first baseman posted 46 hits, 35 runs, 31 RBIs, 21 walks, seven steals, and four homers. The native of Aragua, Venezuela, added a 1.055 OPS in 120 at-bats.
 
Named to the Second Team as an infielder, Jose Santiago racked up a .305 batting average in 141 at-bats with 35 hits, 17 walks, nine doubles, six home runs, and five stolen bases on five attempts. Raised in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, Santiago was also named to the Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team.
 
Ramses Ortega appears on the Second Team All-Conference list after leading the team with a 3.61 ERA in 47.1 innings of work. The native of Panama City, Panama, collected a 4-1 record and two saves in 14 appearances with 48 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .299 batting average and a 1.73 WHIP.
 
The defensive prowess of Armando Jackson enabled the catcher to be named to the Gold Glove Team as well as the All-Freshman Team. Coming to the team from Santiago, Dominican Republic, Jackson posted a .986 fielding percentage while recording 237 putouts, and 40 assists, caught 11 base runners stealing, and posted three double plays.
 
Nomar Garcia was named to the All-Freshman Team after posting a .261 batting average with 31 hits, 25 runs, 24 RBIs, 22 walks, six doubles, and five home runs while adding a .823 OPS.
 
Other distinguished honors include Jordan New, Marcos Romano, and Norberto Hernandez Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team.
 
Entering the SSAC Baseball Championship Tournament as the #2 Seed, Talladega College faces Brewton-Parker College tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jordan New

#14 Jordan New

RHP
6' 1"
Freshman
R/R
Norberto Hernandez

#21 Norberto Hernandez

RHP
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Marcos Romano

#27 Marcos Romano

RHP
6' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
Wander Arias

#32 Wander Arias

1B
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Miguel Oropeza

#40 Miguel Oropeza

Catcher
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Ramses Ortega

#6 Ramses Ortega

RHP
5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
Jose Santiago

#19 Jose Santiago

OF
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Nomar Garcia

#23 Nomar Garcia

INF
6' 2"
Freshman
R/R
Jose Franco

#10 Jose Franco

RHP
6' 0"
Freshman
R/R
Armando Jackson

#26 Armando Jackson

C
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jordan New

#14 Jordan New

6' 1"
Freshman
R/R
RHP
Norberto Hernandez

#21 Norberto Hernandez

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Marcos Romano

#27 Marcos Romano

6' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Wander Arias

#32 Wander Arias

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
1B
Miguel Oropeza

#40 Miguel Oropeza

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Catcher
Ramses Ortega

#6 Ramses Ortega

5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Jose Santiago

#19 Jose Santiago

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
OF
Nomar Garcia

#23 Nomar Garcia

6' 2"
Freshman
R/R
INF
Jose Franco

#10 Jose Franco

6' 0"
Freshman
R/R
RHP
Armando Jackson

#26 Armando Jackson

6' 1"
Freshman
C

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