Barton's Rodgers and Sanchez named to NJCAA All-America baseball team #GoBarton

The Barton Community College baseball team saw two players named onto the NJCAA All-America teams on Monday as sophomore outfielder Alex Rodgers landed on the First-Team, while teammate Ricardo Sanchez received Honorable Mention honors.

Rodgers a native of Omaha, Nebraska become the first Cougar to garner a First Team All-American honor since Michael Sinks in 2016. The KJCCC West Most Valuable Player was a vital part in helping Barton claim the program's 10th Jayhawk West crown appearing in the leadoff spot for all 59 games and ranking near the top in many offensive categories across the nation. 

A two-time KJCCC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week was an offensive nightmare for opponents turning in the second best .558 on-base percentage while rewriting the school record books and leading the county in stolen bases with 61 along with runs scored crossing the plate 113 times.

The Stephen F. Austin signee also jumped into the program's top-10 single season categories fabricating the seventh best batting average .443, eighth most at-bats 212, third most hits 94, second most doubles 29 and drawing the second most hit-by-pitches 26.

Earning a Region VI Gold Glove award for his defense, the sophomore was phenomenal patrolling center field for the Cougars posting a .984 fielding percentage gathering 123 putouts, committing just two errors and assisting on four plays in the 129 total chances.

In addition to the reveal of the NJCAA All-Americans, Rodgers was named to the First Team of the 2022 ABCA/Rawlings NJCAA All-America honors released by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods.

Much like Rodgers, Sanchez appeared in all 59 games and ranked atop the nation's leaders in offensive production. Sanchez closed his first season with the 11th best batting average of.442 and eighth highest on-base percentage with a .551 mark. 

Claiming a pair of KJCCC Player of the Week awards and a National Player of the Week honor, Sanchez completed the season atop the nation's leaderboard in doubles with 35 and ranking second in RBI production driving in 90 runs.

Helping roll up 29 double plays on the season, Sanchez collected Barton's second Region VI gold glove award committing just four errors in 230 total attempts for a .983 fielding percentage.

Rodgers and Sanchez join five other former Barton Baseball players to earn All-American status: Sinks ('07), Federico Castagnini ('12), Gary Martin ('95), two-time honoree Brian Rodgers ('93 & '94), and Tom Buchanan ('87).