YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The Young Harris College baseball team has had a successful season thus far, currently playing in the NCAA Southeast Regional. That type of success comes from great players producing when it matters most. The Mountain Lions had four players make the NCBWA All-Southeast Region Team, with two garnering first-team honors. Luke Hatcher (OF) and Jeremy Begora (UT) made the first team, while Jonny Smith (2B) and Kade Smallwood (DH) earned second-team honors. 

Senior outfielder Luke Hatcher transferred to Young Harris before this season began, and has been a force to reckon with all season long. Over the course of 56 games played thus far, Hatcher has posted a .345 batting average, racked up a team-high 79 hits, including 28 doubles, and 15 home runs. Luke also drove in 68 YH runs, recorded a 1.114 OPS, .690 slugging percentage, and an on-base percentage of .424 along the way. Luke Hatcher also earned First Team All-Conference Carolinas honors a few weeks back. 

Senior first baseman Jeremy Begora leads the team in Home Runs for the third consecutive season in the Enchanted Valley. Jermey has launched 19 long balls, racked up 67 hits, recorded a .344 batting average, and has collected 60 RBI. Begora has also posted a gawdy .677 slugging percentage, leads the team with a .486 OBP, and also has a team-high 1.163 OPS. Jeremy Begora also recently garnered First Team All-Conference Carolinas defensive honors. 

Jonny Smith has put together a stellar freshman season campaign for the Mountain Lions at second base, earning him Second Team NCBWA All-Southeast Region honors. Smith leads the team with a .355 batting average, while also posting a .437 OBP, and a .980 OPS. Jonny has racked up 66 hits, eight home runs, all while driving in 57 RBI. Jonny Smith made the Conference Carolinas All-Conference Second Team. 

Sophomore Designated Hitter Kade Smallwood is known for the long ball, and he has stepped up to that expectation. Smallwood has launched 18 home runs this season, posted a .345 batting average, and racked up 70 hits. Along with that, Kade has posted a 1.121 OPS, an on base percentage of .471, and a .650 slugging percentage. Smallwood has been heavily underrated this season, but he now pairs this honor with the Second Team All-Conference Carolinas nod that he received before postseason play began. 

Be sure to catch the Mountain Lions in action this afternoon as they battle Lander University in the NCAA Southeast Regional at 3 p.m. using the watch link on our website!