MONTEVALLO, Ala. --- University of Montevallo sophomores Jake Smallwood, Sam Kuchinski and Reed Latimer were selected to the 2022 ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association)/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region Teams. The All-Region teams and Regional Players of the Year were announced in all eight regions on Wednesday.

The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee. First-Team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors, which will be announced on Friday, June 3. The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winners for all divisions will be announced Wednesday, June 22.

Smallwood was second on the team in 2022 in overall offense, ranking in the top five in all major categories. He was second in batting average (.385), third in slugging percentage (.631), third in runs scored (47),  second in hits (69), fourth in RBIs (42), second in doubles (14), third in triples (3) and fourth in home runs (4). An All-GSC selection in 2022, Smallwood is ranked in the top 10 in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and triples. 

Latimer is an All-GSC honoree as well as a two-time GSC Player of the Week selection in 2022. He led the Falcons in five offensive categories and was second in two others. He finished the season at the top of the UM statistics with a batting average of .397, slugging percentage of .745, hits (73), RBIs (66), and doubles (20). He was second on the team in home runs with 14, and tied Smallwood in steals with seven. Latimer ranked number one in the GSC in batting average, slugging percentage, RBIs and doubles. He was third in hits and fourth in homers.

Kuchinski was named Gulf South Conference Co-Player of the Year after an outstanding season. He led the conference in home runs (18) , while placing second in RBIs (66) and runs scored (53), third in on-base percentage and (.495), and eighth-overall in hits (64). Kuchinski earned GSC Player of the Week honors on March 29 after going 4-4 with eight RBI's, two home runs, four runs scored and a walk in a win over Shorter College. In five games during the week against North Georgia and Shorter Kuchinski went 7-for-16 with three home runs and 13 RBI's. He also scored seven runs, had six walks, and a hit-by-pitch.

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and High School. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.

The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University. Also on the committee are Randy Betten (Cal Poly Pomona), Jamie Detillion (Grand Valley State University), Jim Gantt (Catawba College), Rick Giannetti (Dominican College), Dave Hajek (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs), Alex Koch (Wayne State College) and Joe Spano (Mercyhurst University).

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 13,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.

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