Phillips continues Andrew's Gold Glove run
CUTHBERT, GA – Andrew College's Brenton Phillips was named a 2019 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner as an outfielder. The prestigious award is sponsored by the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, and award winners are selected by coaches in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in honor of the best defensive player at each position, for nine divisions of amateur baseball. The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. It is over 8,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.
Phillips, a sophomore from Albany, GA and Lee County High School, started all 53 games for the Tigers in centerfield in 2019. He had a 129 total chances in centerfield with 123 putouts, 6 assists, and no errors, and was named to the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) All-Defensive Team, as well as the GCAA Defensive Player of the Year. Phillips not only shined in the field, he posted a .317 batting average, banging out 60 hits, including a team-leading 19 doubles and tied Justin Barr for a team-leading 39 RBI. He also belted 4 home runs, 3 triples, and was 12 of 13 in stolen bases. He will play for Akron University next season. The Zips are an NCAA Div. I school, located in Akron, OH, where he will play for longtime former Cincinnati Red 3rd baseman Chris Sabo.
Phillips is the 4th straight Rawlings Gold Glove winner under Head Coach Blake Williams, joining centerfielder Mike Warren in 2016, catcher Chris Schwarzer in 2017, and centerfielder Jordan Holt last season. Head Coach Williams commented on Phillips, "He was a consistent performer for us not only defensively but offensively as well but he really shined in centerfield. It is very important to have solid outfield play and knowing every day when I write out a lineup I can pencil him in without thinking twice. Everyone knew when a ball was hit in the outfield he was going to track it down with good routes and making the smart throw back in to cut down base runners from taking the extra base. Brenton controlled our outfield defense and will be missed from all the intangibles he brought to our team. I'm very proud of this honor for Brenton as he has worked his tail off every single day to be an elite defender at a premium position."