A pair of former Norwell High School baseball standouts were recognized for their play at Taylor University on Tuesday.
Trojan first baseman Ryne Otis became the school's first winner of the Rawlings-NAIA Baseball Gold Glove award, presented annually to the top player at each position across the country.
“Anyone who has seen Ryne play first base knows that's what it's supposed to look like over there,” Taylor Coach Kyle Gould said in a release. “It's not just the plays he made, but it's the plays he saved picking balls out of the dirt and handling bad throws over at first base that make him the best defensive first baseman in the NAIA.”
This past season, Otis boasted a .995 fielding percentage in 416 chances with just two errors all season to lead Taylor's everyday position players in the field.
Otis finished his career with a .987 fielding percentage in 210 starts at first base. In 1,659 career chances, Otis committed just 22 errors with 10 of those coming during his sophomore season.
During his senior season this spring, Otis batted .365 and led the Trojans with 11 home runs and 56 RBIs for a .652 slugging percentage. He ended his career as a .393 hitter with 271 hits and 41 home runs to go along with 228 RBIs and a .688 slugging percentage.
Otis was the only player of the nine from the state of Indiana or from an Indiana college.
Along with his selection to the Rawlings Gold Glove Team, Otis and longtime teammate Rhett Goodmiller were also named NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans Monday by the All-America Selection Committee.
