May 23, 2016
DURHAM, N.C. – Led by first-teamers Tristin English, Matt Gonzalez and Kel Johnson, seven Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were named to the 2016 All-ACC Baseball Team, released Monday by the league office.
Tech had the second-most first-team selections with three, two behind Louisville (five). Joining Tech’s trio are junior pitchers Brandon Gold and Matthew Gorst, who were both named to second-team All-ACC, while junior SS Connor Justus was named to the third team. Catcher Joey Bart and English were named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
The three first-team selections are the most by Georgia Tech since 2013, while its six All-ACC honorees are the most since 2011.
Gonzalez collected his third career All-ACC honor, becoming the first three-time All-ACC Yellow Jacket since current Detroit Tigers pitcher Buck Farmer (2011-13). The Acworth, Ga., native is the NCAA’s active career leader in hits (287) and sacrifice flies (21). Gonzalez leads the Yellow Jackets in batting average (.368) and hits (78), while ranking second in both home runs (9) and RBI (47).
English and Johnson picked up their career-first All-ACC nods. English is Tech’s first freshman first-team All-ACC selection since Kyle Wren in 2011. English is batting .309 with a team-leading 20 doubles, three home runs and 34 RBI in 52 games.
A year after earning ACC All-Freshman honors, Johnson is a first-team All-ACC selection. The Palmetto, Ga., native is batting .340 with a team-leading 11 RBI and 51 RBI. His 16 doubles rank second behind English.
Gold and Gorst formed a formidable 1-2 punch in 2016. The starter Gold was 7-3 with a 2.55 ERA and struck out a team-high 71 batters in 14 starts. The reliever Gorst owned a microscopic 0.49 ERA with a 1-1 record and 11 saves, which are the third-most in school history.
Justus, considered by many to be one of the nation’s best shortstops, was Tech’s lone third-team selection. Justus posted a career year, batting .340 with 73 hits, 14 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 36 RBI.
Georgia Tech boasted an ACC-best two players on the All-Freshman Team with English and Bart. The freshman duo hit above .300 for the majority of the regular season. Bart batted .299 with 10 doubles and 26 RBI in 39 starts.
Georgia Tech (35-20) opens the ACC Baseball Championship on Tuesday (3 p.m., RSN/FOX Sports Southeast) against Boston College in a first round game. The winner advances to pool play which begins Wednesday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
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GEORGIA TECH’S 2016 ALL-ACC SELECTIONS
First Team
Tristin English, Fr., 1B
Matt Gonzalez, Sr., OF
Kel Johnson, So., OF
Second Team
Brandon Gold, Jr., SP
Matthew Gorst, Jr., RP
Third Team
Connor Justus, Jr., SS
All-Freshman Team
Tristin English, 1B
Joey Bart, C
