Clarksville, Ark.-University of the Ozarks junior rightfielder Freddy Prince won the American Southwest Conference batting title with a .406 average.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed hitter won the title over Schreiner University’s Chase Valdez, who hit .399. Prince, a native of Jonesboro, Ark., also led the league in hits with 63. Prince posted a .500 average in the month of April to secure the title. On the season, he had 11 doubles, one homerun and 22 RBI. Prince led the team with 20 multiple-hit games and owned a 13-game hit streak during the season. He posted six three-hit games and went 5-for-6 with three RBI against nationally-ranked Texas-Tyler on March 29. Ozarks finished the season with a league-high .299 batting average.
“Freddy was our most consistent hitter all year and was hot in the last half of the year,” said Head Coach Jimmy Clark. “Without a doubt, winning a batting title is not an easy thing to do. He showed signs of that type of potential in the past and now he has emerged into the player we thought he would become. We are glad to have him back for another year.”
It is the second time an Ozarks’ player has won the ASC batting title. All-America shortstop Cory Briggs accomplished the feat in 2008 with a .467 average.
Prince hit .529 his senior season at Westside High School in Jonesboro.
Topics: Athletics