Hope College’s JP Batts has been recognized as one of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s top baseball players for the 2017 season.
The senior rightfielder from Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake HS) has been named to the All-MIAA First Team for the 2017 season by the league’s coaches.
Batts is one of three first-team outfielders.
Batts hit a team-leading .439 against MIAA opponents this season that was third-highest among MIAA players.
Batts totaled 43 hits in MIAA play, including nine doubles, three triples and one home run.
Batts collected 20 RBIs and scored 20 runs against MIAA foes as he helped the Flying Dutchmen finish third in the MIAA standings and qualify for the league tournament.
This is Batts’ first All-MIAA First Team recognition.
Two Hope players received second-team honors: shortstop Jordon Fairchild of Muskegon, Michigan (Oakridge) and left fielder Mason Opple of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville).
Fairchild batted .301 against MIAA competition with 25 runs scored. He recorded a
.944 fielding percentage with 79 assists and 55 putouts.
Opple hit .340 in MIAA play. He finished with 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored.