University of the Cumberlands | Patriot Athletics

For Immediate Release

2008-06-03

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Baseball Patriot Earns National Gold Glove Honor

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2008 Rawlings NAIA Baseball Gold Glove Team, as selected by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) All-America Selection Committee. A total of nine players were selected to the best in the fielding category. In only its second year, the Rawlings Gold Glove has honored University of the Cumberlands Patriot Andrew Denton (Hendersonville, TN) at the second base position.

Sixty-three Collegiate Rawlings Gold Gloves were awarded in 2008, nine each at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, and NJCAA Divisions I, II, and III levels.

Denton swept through the Rawlings Gold Glove honors earning the award at the Mid-South Conference and NAIA Region XI levels as well. On the year, Denton started all 58 games. In his second base position, he had only 4 errors while turning 38 double plays. Offensively, Denton finished with a .307 batting average collecting 58 hits, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, and 39 RBI.

Cumberlands Head Coach Brad Shelton was excited about Denton’s success. "Drew is without a doubt the best defensive second baseman I have had as a head coach,” said Shelton. “He had a great season. Our team defense was so much better this year, that I believe it was the single biggest factor in our success. Drew's offensive abilities are overshadowed by his glove, but he is a complete player. Most importantly, he is a "team first" guy. He was one of the keys to our team's hardnosed play this season."

Earning the title of Regular Season Mid-South Conference Champions and finishing the Mid-South Conference Tournament as the runner-up, the Patriots earned the #1 seed in the NAIA Region XI Tournament held in Lebanon, TN. The Patriots dropped their games in the Regional Tournament which ended their run to the NAIA World Series. The Patriots ended the year at 43-16 with a 17-2 record in the Mid-South Conference.

Rawlings is a leading marketer and manufacturer of baseball equipment and other sporting goods in the United States. Rawlings is the Exclusive Official Baseball for the NAIA. For more information, please visit www.rawlings.com.

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