JACKSON- Millsaps Majors senior catcher Wes Perkins has been named a first-team All-American by D3baseball.com, leading four Majors being placed on All-American teams.
Perkins was arguably the biggest bat in the vaunted Majors' lineup, hitting .428 so far this season with 89 hits (second in the nation), 26 doubles (second in the nation) and 60 runs driven in. Perkins also was a stalwart behind the plate this season for the Majors, fielding his position at a .982 clip. He has also thrown out 21 percent of would be base stealers.
Joining Perkins on the All-American team are Keith Shumaker (2nd team), Stephen Gates (3rd team) and Kevin Wall (honorable mention).
Keith Shumaker was named to the second team at the "utility" position, recognizing Shumakers' excellence on the mound and at the plate. The D3baseball.com South Region Player of the Year is hitting .374 on the year with 63 runs scored, 76 hits and 51 runs driven in. Shumaker has also gone 6-1 with 3.01 earned run average over 86 innings so far this season as the number two starter.
Stephen Gates gets the nod as the third team's third baseman. Gates has seen time at both first and third base this season for the Majors. Gates has been the lead-off man for the Majors this season and has set the table for the Majors' offense this year. Gates has done just that this season, hitting .368 with 63 runs, 77 hits, and 35 runs batted in. In the field, Gates' versatility has been crucial to the Majors' success this year.
Kevin Wall, was placed on the honorable mention team at second base. Wall helps to anchor the Majors' infield defense, helping turn 38 double plays during the regular season. At the plate, Wall is hitting .344 with 39 runs, 66 hits and 38 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. Wall's seven runs batted in led the South Regional Tournament.
The Majors next face the Southern Maine Huskies on Friday at 10 a.m. at the College World Series. The Huskies placed two on the first-team All-American list including the Player of the Year, Tucker White.
The full release can be viewed here
