DALLAS, Texas – Three members of the Jacksonville State baseball team received postseason honors from Conference USA on Tuesday.
Junior
Brennen Norton headlined the Jax State contingent with a spot on the CUSA First Team, while sophomore
Caleb Johnson earned a spot on the CUSA Second Team. Freshman
Gabe Young was tabbed to the league's All-Freshman Team.
Norton, from Cullman, Alabama, turned in one of the best averages in the 24 conferences games in 2024 with a .400 mark at the plate. The third baseman collected 38-of-his-69 hits this season against league pitching. He finished among the home run leaders in CUSA with 13 on the season, including five in CUSA contests. Norton had multiple hits in half of Jax State's league games, including three games with three hits. He reached base in 22 straight CUSA games in 2023 and had six multi-RBI games within the league. Overall, he turned in a .327 average at the plate and delivered 31 RBI. Norton's on-base percentage of .400 was bolstered by 20 walks and being hit-by-pitch 13 times. He posted the top slugging percentage on the club at .573. He joined Johnson as the only two Gamecocks to play in all 53 games in 2024.
Johnson was Jax State's most consistent offensive producer throughout the campaign. The Phenix City, Alabama product finished the season hitting .282 and scoring a team-high 50 runs. The switch hitting shortstop had 29 hits against CUSA pitching, including 10 extra base hits. Johnson recorded nine league games with multiple hits. He was one of three Gamecocks to have double digit stolen bases with 14 on the season. He posted a solid .958 fielding percentage at shortstop.
Young, a talented first-year player in the program, solidified the designated hitter spot throughout the season with 29 starts at that position in the lineup. The Mountain
Brook. Alabama native played in 48 games as a rookie and finished with 31 hits, including nine for extra bases. Young led the 2024 squad with 26 walks and was plunked 18 times. He posted four doubles and five RBI in league action, while reaching base eight times via walk in the 21 CUSA game he played in.
