Five land on Black College Nines Elite Teams
The 2024 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season champion Wiley University baseball team adds more accolades as four athletes and an administrator earn recognition on the Black College Nines 2024 Small School Elite Teams.
Keyon Guillory earned Freshman of the Year and First Team starting pitcher. Jhan Carlos Javier garnered his second consecutive selection and first, First Team outfielder selection. Ryan Ready was a First Team infielder selection. Nick Rodriguez earned Second Team relief pitcher. Sports Information Director Andrew Glover was selected as SID of the Year for the second consecutive season and third in the last four Wiley competed in.
The elite teams were selected based on statistics, and mid-season reports, including research provided by Black College Nines, the schools' coaching staffs and sports information directors. Black College Nines and members of the national media voted for Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year.
Guillory won seven starts in his freshman season, including three shutouts. He also tossed four complete games and had three double-digit strikeout performances. Guillory ranked second in the GCAC with 95 strikeouts and third in wins. He won four GCAC Pitcher of the Week awards and one NAIA Pitcher of the Week award. Additionally, Guillory was named GCAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year.
For the second consecutive season, Javier was one of the top hitters in the GCAC. He ranked second with a .393 batting average and ranked third with seven home runs. Additionally, he finished in the top five in slugging percentage (.637) and on-base percentage (.497). Javier ranked in the top 10 in runs (44), hits (53), runs batted in (35), total bases (86) and walks (27). He was an All-GCAC First Team selection and won Player of the Week for March 11-17.
Ready made an immediate impact in his first season with the Wildcats. He led the GCAC with 65 RBI, ranked second with 10 home runs and third with a .375 batting average. He finished in the top 10 in runs (47), hits (57), and doubles (11). Ready earned GCAC Newcomer of the Year and Second Team third baseman. He claimed two Player of the Week awards and was selected to the GCAC All-Tournament Team after helping the Wildcats to a runner-up finish.
Rodriguez was a solid arm in Wiley's bullpen - going 5-0 and recording three saves, with two in the GCAC Championship. He struck out 44 batters in 52 2/3 innings. Rodriguez was named to the GCAC All-Tournament Team.
Glover, who wrapped up his ninth year as Wiley University's sports information director, was responsible for documenting the Wildcats' historic season through game recaps, previews and weekly series notes. He contributed to Wiley winning eight GCAC Player and or Pitcher of the Week awards and the school's first NAIA Pitcher of the Week. Glover also served as the statistican for the 2024 Hope Credit Union GCAC Championship.
The Wildcats finished the season 29-21, which is their highest win total in over 20 years. Along with capturing its first conference title since 1982, it also earned its second consecutive Black College World Series berth, winning its first game.
About Black College Nines
Black College Nines is a website dedicated to the coverage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities baseball teams and preserving the legacy of HBCU Baseball.
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