BB NCCAA All-Region Team

Baseball

Kumai, Torres, and Lazaris selected for NCCAA All-Region

Baseball

Kumai, Torres, and Lazaris selected for NCCAA All-Region

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) has released their all-region selections for the North Central region. After making their first postseason appearance in over a decade, the Trojans placed three student-athletes on the All-Region team. Jonathan Kumai and Julius Torres were chosen for first team honors, while Blake Lazaris garnered a second team nod.

Kumai, a junior from Lynnwood, Washington, earns his first all-region nod with the Trojans after leading the offense with 65 hits and .359 batting average. Throughout the season he scored 41 runs with 89 total bases, while collecting 35 runs batted in and eight stolen bases. Kumai held a .946 fielding percentage with 48 put outs and 111 assists from the shortstop position. He was also selected as CCAC Player of the Week in early March after going 13-26 in a week-span, batting in 12 runs and scoring ten to lead the Trojans to a 6-1 week.

Torres, a senior from Chicago, Illinois, earns his first all-region selection after a standout career with TIU. This season he led the NAIA in stolen bases with 44 total, leading the CCAC by a margin of nearly 20 bases. His 45 runs scored also places him top ten in the conference. He holds the single season record for bases stolen (44 bases), as well as the all-time career record with a total of 74 stolen bases. Throughout his career as a Trojan, Torres has competed in 194 games, collected 142 hits, and scored 127 runs. He ranks second in career games played and runs scored.

Lazaris, a senior from Richfield, Wisconsin, earns his third all-region honor after a record-breaking season for the Trojans offense. With 56 hits this season, the veteran claimed the TIU all-time hits record after concluding the season with 235 total hits. Throughout the season, Lazaris also collected 40 runs, three home runs, and 35 runs batted in.  Previously, Lazaris earned First Team All-Conference designation in 2021 and 2022, as well as being named to the NCCAA All-Region Team in the same years. He was also named Third Team All-American by the NCCAA in 2022. Off the field, Lazaris has been recognized for his academic excellence as a two-time NCCAA Scholar-Athlete and a two-time member of the CCAC All-Academic Team. Lazaris finished his career with the all-time record in ten stats categories including: at bats, runs, hits, runs batted in, doubles, triples, total bases, hit by pitch, games played and games started. He also ranks second in career home runs and stolen bases while appearing in the top ten for assists and batting average.


To see the complete North Central region team, click here.
 
 
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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness, and lifelong learning.
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Players Mentioned

Blake Lazaris

#20 Blake Lazaris

OF/3B
5' 11"
Senior
Jonathan Kumai

#13 Jonathan Kumai

SS
5' 7"
Freshman
Julius Torres

#1 Julius Torres

P/OF
5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Blake Lazaris

#20 Blake Lazaris

5' 11"
Senior
OF/3B
Jonathan Kumai

#13 Jonathan Kumai

5' 7"
Freshman
SS
Julius Torres

#1 Julius Torres

5' 8"
Senior
P/OF