Senior first baseman Kyle Greene became the second straight Lewis-Clark State College baseball player to earn NAIA Player of the Year honors, while junior catcher Brian Ward received two honors from the NAIA.

Greene, who is from Lewiston, follows Beau Mills as the NAIA’s top player. Greene is the third player from LCSC to win the honor as Jim O’Dell was the first LCSC player honored in 1983.

Greene hit .429 during the season with a .934 slugging percentage, 18 home runs, 69 runs, 30 doubles, and 93 hits.

Greene tied an NAIA record during the season by hitting two grand slam home runs in a 10-9 loss to Dixie State. That performance helped him earn the NAIA’s Player of the Week.

Greene was the only Warrior to earn first-team honors in the 17-member team. Ward and junior starting pitcher Matt Fitts were second-team selections, while senior pitcher Justin Mace was an honorable mention selection.

Ward was also named to the NAIA Rawlings Golden Glove Team for his defensive play.
Ward also had a solid season at the plate as he hit .360 on the season, playing in 49 games and starting in 46. Ward collected 63 hits, including 17 doubles and eight home runs.

Fitts became only the third pitcher in school history to post a 13-0 record. Fitts started 16 games and had a 2.97 earned run average. He pitched a team-high 103 innings and struck out 109 and walked only 29. He also allowed only 70 hits.

Mace was used as both a starter and a reliever. He posted a 6-0 record with six saves and a 1.44 ERA. He struck out 53 and walked only 13.

(Courtesy Bert Sahlberg, LCSC)