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Two JCCC baseball players named All-American
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Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

6/11/08
Story by Tyler Cundith

Two JCCC baseball players named All-American

Brandon Droge portrait
Brandon Droge

Doug Otto portrait
Doug Otto
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --  Two members from the Johnson County Community College baseball team were named as NJCAA Division I All-Americans for the 2008 season. Sophomore shortstop Doug Otto of Jefferson City, Mo., was named as a first-team All-American, and freshman left-handed pitcher Brandon Droge of Topeka, Kan., earned honorable mention honors. Both played key roles in leading JCCC to a 41-18 record, a Region VI title, and the team’s first appearance in the NJCAA JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

Otto posted a.424 batting average (78-for-184) with 20 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 65 runs scored, 49 RBI and 30 stolen bases. He led the team in average, doubles, triples, home runs and runs scored. He also was second in RBI and stolen bases. His 78 hits are the third best season in team history, and he ranks second with 20 doubles. In all, Otto etched his name in 12 season and career categories at JCCC.
 
In the World Series, Otto hit a team-best .667, going 4-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI, five runs and three walks. He also was 3-for-3 in stolen bases. He was named All-Tournament. Otto also was named as the NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove winner at shortstop and has been selected to play for the NJCAA All-Star Team this summer. Earlier this year, Otto was voted the MVP of the East Jayhawk Conference, named as a first-team All-Region VI performer. Otto will continue his career at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Droge was one of the team’s top aces on the mound in the 2008. He finished 8-2 overall with a team-best 1.28 earned run average. He pitched a school record 98 innings, allowing just 18 earned runs, while striking out 74 batters. Droge’s 8 wins tie for 11th on JCCC’s season chart. He ranks second in season games started at 14, and his seven complete games tie for ninth at JCCC. His 74 strikeouts also tie for ninth in a season. Droge will return for his sophomore season at JCCC next fall.

This marks the second time in team history two players in the same season were honored as NJCAA All-Americans. The first was in 1974, when pitcher Bob Downs and second basemen Mark Balderston were selected. Both those players are members of JCCC’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

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For schedules, rosters, and other team information, go to JCCC's Athletics Web site:
http://www.jccc.edu/athletics