2023 NCBWA Division II All-Region Teams
One of the most feared closers in Hillsdale College baseball history received All-Region recognition for the first time on Thursday afternoon.
Junior Zane Barnhart was one of two relief pitchers named to the All-Midwest Region first team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and was joined on the team by two teammates who earned honorable mention recognition -- sophomore first baseman Will Shannon and junior outfielder Joe Hardenbergh. Founded in 1962, the NCBWA hands out awards annually to top collegiate baseball players across the country.
Barnhart, a two-time All-G-MAC honoree who earned first-team honors from the conference for the 2023 season last week, is just the third Charger since 2017 to earn first team All-Region honors to the NCBWA, joining Ethan Wiskur in 2017 and teammate Aidan Brewer in 2021.
The junior from Medina, Ohio has been an effective player out of the bullpen for the Chargers, earning second team honors from the G-MAC in 2022, but there's no denying he was a different player this year, showing up at the start of spring with a noticeable increase in both confidence and velocity. That played out throughout the 2023 season, as Barnhart posted a 5-1 record in 20 appearances with six saves, a 2.06 ERA, and 61 strikeouts to 10 walks in just 43.2 innings pitched, for an impressive 12.57 strikeouts per nine innings average. Thoughout the season, Barnhart was a force for the Chargers, and one of the most reliable arms out of the bullpen to finish a game in Hillsdale College history. For his career to date, Barnhart's 13 saves out of the bullpen are the second-most by a Chargers pitcher in all time.
Both Shannon and Hardenbergh are also earning All-Region honors for the first time in their careers, and together combined with Barnhart to help lead the Chargers to the most conference wins in a season (20) in program history, and the program's bestr regular-season finish in conference play since joining the G-MAC in 2018.
Sophomore first baseman Will Shannon adds All-Region honors to a first team All-G-MAC nod early in the season, with both awards coming after a breakout season for the ages in 2023. Shannon stepped into the heart of the Hillsdale lineup from day one after seeing limited playing time as a freshman and led the chargers in batting average (.388) and hits (73). Not just a hitter for average with a high OBP (.444), Shannon provided plenty of power for the Chargers, with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 30 RBIs, as well as an OPS of 1.141 for the entire season.
Shannon's marks have earned him a spot in the Hillsdale record book -- tied for fifth in single-season hits (73), eighth in doubles (15), ninth in single-season slugging percentage (.697) and tied for ninth in single season home runs (13) -- in just his second season with the Chargers.
Also receiving honorable mention recognition is junior outfielder Joe Hardenbergh, who put together a standout season of his own for Hillsdale at the plate. Long a prolific home run hitter for the Chargers, Hardenbergh continued his development into a great all-around hitter in 2023, significantly increasing his batting average and on-base percentage from past years without sacrificing any of his power at the plate. For the season, Hardenbergh hit a career-best .325, leading the Chargers with 14 home runs but also providing 13 doubles, 37 RBIs and four stolen bases. His .651 slugging percentage was among the top 10 players in the G-MAC this season.
This may not be the last honor for all three players -- we are still awaiting All-Region honorees from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association later this month, as well as the All-American teams for all three organizations. Stay tuned to hillsdalechargers.com for more updates as these teams are announced.