East Providence trio earns JUCO baseball postseason awards

CCRI’s Woods, Sears, Aponte receive recognition

Posted 5/31/19

WARWICK — Three city players were among 16 members total of Community College of Rhode Island baseball team to receive All-Region XXI accolades for their performances this spring.

CJ Woods …

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East Providence trio earns JUCO baseball postseason awards

CCRI’s Woods, Sears, Aponte receive recognition

C.J. Woods delivers a pitch for CCRI during one of the Knights' NJCAA Division III national tournament games.
C.J. Woods delivers a pitch for CCRI during one of the Knights' NJCAA Division III national tournament games.
Posted

WARWICK — Three city players were among 16 members total of Community College of Rhode Island baseball team to receive All-Region XXI accolades for their performances this spring.

CJ Woods received both All-Region team awards as well as Region XXI Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, while Ben Sears and Ray Aponte earned All-Region notice. Of note as well, Knights’ head coach Kevin Rix received Region XXI Division III Coach of the Year in only his second year at the helm of CCRI.

A sophomore pitcher, Woods received a spot Region XXI D-III All-Region second team. Woods made eight appearances for the Knights in 2019, winning six, 30th best in the nation and tied third best in the region. He threw 47.1 innings, second most on the team and averaged 6.08 strikeouts per nine innings. Woods fielded at .867 and received recognition for the Gold Glove Award.

A freshman pitcher, Sears had a fantastic year for the Knights and took a spot on the Region XXI D-III All-Region first team. Sears was dominant, winning eight of his 11 appearances which was 13th best in the nation and top of the region. He threw 67.2 innings, the most for CCRI and struck out 99 batters on the year, sixth best in the country as well as best in the region and averaged 13.17 strikeouts per nine innings which was the eighth best in the nation. Sears ended the year with a 2.93 ERA, 30th best in the country.

A sophomore third baseman, Aponte had a solid season for the Knights infield and received a spot on the Region XXI D-III All-Region second team for his efforts. Playing in 35 games, Aponte batted an impressive .344 and had a slugging percentage of .552. Ray hit 11 doubles and three homeruns while adding 30 RBI and 25 runs scored. A solid .472 on base percentage meant that Aponte often gave his teammates chance to knock runs in.

Rix led the Knights to 27-12 record, winning the Region XXI and District F Championships and making the program’s fifth NJCAA College World Series appearance. At the College World Series, CCRI came up against great competition in the No. 2, No. 4 and No. 8 nationally ranked teams and did well, advancing to the third round before being knocked out by Brookhaven College (Texas).

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