Cook repeats as conference top pitcher

For the second year, Colby Community College pitcher Alex Cook is the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Western Division Pitcher of the Year. He joined first baseman Hagen Barcello and designated hitter Jake Ticer on the All-KJCCC and Division I Region VI first teams.

Barcello also made the KJCCC second team as a starting pitcher along with second baseman Cleary Simpson. Third baseman AJ Cortese, catcher Blake Labuda and shortstop John Vulcano were honorable mention.

Cook finished his sophomore season 9-1 with four complete games. He was selected the week five KJCCC Pitcher of the Week after a dominant display against No. 18 Cloud County in which the Bethlehem, Ga., native struck out 13 batters over six scoreless innings while scattering three hits in a 14-0 victory. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righty led the conference with 103 strikeouts and a 1.71 earned run average in 63 frames. Cook logged back-to-back 100-plus strikeout seasons, and his career total of 221 strikeouts ranks as the second-most in conference history.

At the plate, Barcello hit .374 and finished ninth in the conference with 16 home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.761) while driving in 56 runs. When the right-handed pitcher from Houston, Texas, took the mound, he tossed a conference-best seven complete games and a 4.74 ERA. Standing at 6-2 and 195 pounds, Barcello had a record of 6-5 and tossed 79.2 innings, which ranked second in the conference.

Left-handed power hitter Ticer finished second in the KJCCC with 21 home runs and was second with a .868 slugging percentage. The 6-7, 240-pounder from Loveland, Colo., also drove in 58 runs and posted a .368 batting average.

Simpson, from Elnora, Alberta, Canada, led the Trojans with a .390 batting average. His 172 at-bats, 69 runs, 19 doubles, and 40 walks were team-bests for the 6-0, 170-pound left-handed hitter. He ranked third in the conference with a .535 on-base percentage.

Loveland, Colorado's Cortese clubbed nine homers with 35 RBIs. In 130 at-bats, the 6-0, 195-pounder ranked third on the Trojans with a .443 on-base percentage, and his 17 walks were fifth-most.

Behind the plate, Labuda was second in the conference by throwing out 16 would-be base stealers. The 5-9, 175-pounder from Broomfield, Colo., ranked fourth on the club with a .340 batting average. 

Vulcano was third on the team with 11 home runs, and his 47 hits were fourth-most for the 5-10, 185-pound Cloverdale, British Columbia native.

The Trojans were conference runners-up with a 21-11 record and a 37-21 mark overall.