Bluffton University junior Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) was recently honored as Third Team All-Mideast Region by the ABCA for his outstanding work on the diamond this season. He is the fourth Beavers to be named All-Region in the past six seasons, but the first since Tim Kay in 2007. Riordan McClain and Tony Moore were both selected to the second team in 2006. Broyles was of the 15 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference players named All-Mideast Region.
Trey Forbes (Manchester), Michael Kovacs (RHIT) and Michael Tucker (Anderson), the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, were all named to the First Team All-Mideast Region for their efforts in 2011.
Senior outfielder John Snyder (Marietta) and junior hurler Brian Gasser (Marietta) were named Mideast Player of the Year and Mideast Pitcher of the Year, respectively, by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Nick Broyles, who was named Second Team All-HCAC a year ago, continued his assault on the opposing pitching and the Bluffton record books with a superb junior campaign. He shattered his own school record (39 in 2010) with 51 runs scored. His 48 RBI was just one off his school mark of 49 set a season ago.
Bluffton's version of the 30-30 players that became popular in Major League Baseball two decades ago, Broyles pounded eight home runs and was nearly perfect on the bases with 17 thefts in 18 attempts. His 17 steals equaled the school record and he was just two dingers away from his school-record 10 homers.
For the season, Broyles finished with a school-record 114 total bases and his 62 hits was the third-highest total in school history. The standout ripped 18 doubles (2nd all-time) and five triples (tied for 2nd all-time).
With another season yet to play, Broyles already holds the career record with 114 RBI and he is tied with John Holzwart for the most doubles in school history (34). He needs just two steals to break all-time mark of 40 held by Matt Henderson.
Broyles is closing in on school records with 113 runs, 266 total bases, 10 triples, 149 hits and 28 HBP's. His .627 slugging percentage is #5 all-time. Broyles pounded two homers in a game twice this season and he equaled the school record with a pair of triples against John Jay in Florida.
In Heartland Conference play, Broyles feasted on the opposing pitching to the tune of an HCAC-best 43 hits and 80 total bases. His .457 batting average was second best in the conference, as were his 12 doubles and 34 runs scored. He stole a conference-high 11 bases and came in third with seven long balls.
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