Central’s Saunders named to baseball all-region first team

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — Central College shortstop Garrett Saunders (Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III Central All-Region First Team Monday.

The primary leadoff hitter for the Dutch, Saunders started all 39 games. He led the team in hits (64), runs scored (38), stolen bases (21), doubles (16), total bases (95) and batting average (.388). The second-team all-Iowa Conference selection was named the league position player of the week on March 13, when he led the team with 18 hits, 11 runs and seven stolen bases.

Saunders is 68 hits shy of becoming the all-time hits leader at Central, his 158 hits places him 10th in program history entering his final year.

The Dutch finished the 2018 season with a 16-23 record and a 7-16 mark in league play.