Southern Arkansas Baseball Signs Three

Southern Arkansas Baseball Signs Three

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas Assistant Coach Steve Browning has announced the signing of three junior college All-Americans to the Mulerider baseball program, including the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II national player of the year in Des Moines Area (Iowa) Community College first baseman Jake Astor.  SAU also inked Jackson (Mich.) Community College pitcher Dan Bream, a second team All-America selection, and outfielder Chris Harrison, who was a third team pick.

Receiving first team All-America honors for the second straight year, Astor (North Liberty, Iowa) hit .444 this season with 14 home runs and 79 RBI en route to his player of the year accolade from the American Baseball Coaches Association.  The 6-2 sophomore set seven school records in helping lead the Bears to the Region 11 championship and to their second consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division II College World Series.  Astor was also a first team selection on the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference All-Region team this year and was named to the North Plains All-District team.

Astor added 15 doubles, scored 80 runs, drew 51 walks and had a .757 slugging percentage in 63 games.  Des Moines Area was 55-11 on the season.

Bream (6-6, 165, Coldwater, Mich.) compiled a 10-1 record with a 1.39 ERA on the mound this year at Jackson.  The right-hander conceded just 53 hits and 20 walks in 71 innings of work, striking out 69.  Bream was the NJCAA Division II national pitcher of the week in April.  The sophomore set five school records for the Jets.

Harrison (6-0, 200, Saline, Mich.) broke 10 Jackson records this season on his way to a .468 batting average that included 18 doubles, seven triples and 10 home runs. In 54 games the sophomore outfielder collected 65 RBI, amassed an .827 slugging percentage and stole 21 bases.

Bream and Harrison were both honored as All-Region 12 and All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) first team selections.  They helped guide the Jets to the MCCAA championship and a 43-12 season.