Kaido Named To All-GLIAC First Team

Wade Kaido
Wade Kaido

Ashland University third baseman Wade Kaido has been named to the All-GLIAC First Team. Kaido is the lone Ashland player to be selected to the 2014 All-GLIAC Baseball First Team.

This is Kaido's first appearance on the first team. A year ago he was an honorable mention selection, plus he was named the most valuable player at the GLIAC Tournament.

Kaido is hitting a team-high .396. He has 11 doubles, three triples, two homers and has driven in 31 runs. Kaido leads the Eagles in doubles, triples, runs (42), on-base percentage (.517) and slugging percentage (.567). While he's listed as a third baseman on the all-conference team, he's also played second base and the outfield this season.

Kaido is second in the GLIAC in batting average.

Two AU players - shortstop Austin Walts and outfielder Mackenzie Hampshire - were named to the All-GLIAC Second Team.

This is the second consecutive season that Walts, a junior, has been on the second team. He's hitting .377 and has a team-leading 61 hits. He's second on the team in stolen bases (10). Walts is fifth in the league in batting average.

Hampshire is a sophomore who was inserted into the lineup midway through last season. Since that time, he's been one of AU's best hitters. He's hitting .364 with a team-high 41 RBI. The outfielder is third in the GLIAC in RBI. Hampshire has belted a team-leading four homers and he's second on the team in doubles (nine). This is his first appearance on the all-conference list.

Pitchers Vince Frate and Alex Smith were named to the GLIAC Honorable Mention roll.

Frate is 8-5. He leads the team in victories and shares the team lead in complete games with Smith (five). Smith is 7-5 with a 3.61 ERA. Frate's ERA is 3.93.

The all-conference awards were announced in Xenia, Ohio, on the eve of the GLIAC Tournament. Grand Valley State's Giancarlo Brugnoni is the GLIAC Player of the Year and GVSU's Evan Nietfeldt is the GLIAC Pitcher of the Year. The GLIAC Freshman of the Year is Lake Erie's Lucas Raley. The 2014 GLIAC Coach of the Year is Jamie Detillion of Grand Valley State.

Ashland opens the GLIAC Tournament on Thursday (May 9) against Grand Valley State.

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