OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Recently, Johnson County Community College sophomore infielder Brady Slavens announced that he would attend the University of Arkansas in 2020-21. Now eight more members from Cavaliers baseball program have announced where they will be playing next year.
Outfielder Derek Abeln (University of Houston); pitcher Zane Barr (Lipscomb University); pitcher Drew Garrett (University of Missouri); pitcher Jon Moll (Northeastern State University); pitcher Colby Ring (University of Antelope Valley); infielder Brendan Ryan (Texas A&M Corpus Christi); infielder Garret Wood (University of Mississippi); and outfielder Landen Wood (Missouri State University).
Abeln (Hickman HS/Columbia, Mo.) batted .395 (15-for-38) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 16 runs scored and seven RBIs in 2020. He collected six multiple-hit games and two multiple-RBI games. For his career, Abeln played in 57 games, 34 as a starter. He batted .341 (44-for-129) with 10 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 51 runs and 40 RBIs. He 14 career multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games.
Barr (Fort Osage HS/Independence, Mo.) was the opening day starter in 2020. He allowed one unearned run and two hits, a walk and struck out six in 3.0 innings of work to pick up the victory over Brookhaven. Barr came to JCCC as the 17th-best right-handed pitcher and 44th-best overall player in the state of Missouri by Perfect Game.
Garrett (Hickman HS/Columbia, Mo.) made six starts on the hill for the Cavaliers this season. He finished 4-1 with 53 strikeouts and allowed just four hits and five runs in 22.2 innings pitched, giving him an earned run average of 1.99. His four hits allowed rank as the second fewest recorded in a season in team history. His 53 strikeouts led the Kansas Jayhawk Conference, and ranked 12th in the NJCAA, and his 21.04 strikeout per nine inning ratio led the nation.
Ring (Langley Secondary/Langley, BC) made four relief appearance in 2020, allowing three earned runs with eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. As a freshman, Ring made seven appearances logging 5.1 innings on the hill with four strikeouts.
Ryan (St. Thomas Aquinas/Overland Park, Kan.) played in 19 games and batted .344 (21-for-61) with eight doubles, four home runs, 30 runs scored and 17 driven in this season. He was also 8-of-9 in stolen bases. His eight doubles were second-best on the team and tied for fifth in the conference. Ryan produced six multiple-hit games and three multiple-RBI games. His first hit for the Cavaliers was two-run homer in a 10-5 win over Brookhaven. Ryan joined the program after playing his freshman year at Southern Illinois University.
G. Wood (Claremore HS/Claremore, Okla.) batted .339 (20-for-59) with five doubles, 22 runs scored and 10 driven in this season. He had three multiple-hit games, highlighted by a four-hit effort in a 32-0 win at Labette. He had a double, three singles, an RBI and scored five times which ties the single-game record at JCCC. For his career, Wood batted .328 (57-for-274) with 12 doubles, three triples, a home run, 66 runs scored and 36 RBIs. He had 10 career multi-hit and eight multi-RBI games.
L. Wood (Union HS/Tulsa, Okla.) batted .397 (29-for-73) this spring with a double, two triples, a home run, 32 runs scored and 11 driven in. He also stole 17 bases which led the team and was second in the conference. His 32 runs tied for the team lead and ranked second in the conference. Wood produced 10 multiple-hit, three multiple-RBI and four multiple-steal games. An all-conference selection as a freshman, Wood batted .375 (104-for-277) over his two seasons. He had 16 doubles, seven triples, four homers, 113 runs scored and 43 RBIs. He had 32 career multi-hit, 11 multi-RBI and 19 multi-steal games. He also stole 67 bases which rank fifth all-time at JCCC, and his 113 career runs are the ninth-most in team history.