Brian Lane named NJCAA All-American

PERKINSTON – Mississippi Gulf Coast's Brian Lane has been named to the NJCAA All-American Second Team following a season in which he led the Bulldogs by batting .402.

"It means everything," the catcher/designated hitter from Spanish Fort, Ala. said. "All the hard work I put in, all the things we did as a team in the fall with the coaches, it all paid off. It's a great feeling."

Lane, who will continue his college career at Delta State, led Gulf Coast in slugging percentage (.574), on-base percentage (.477) and RBI (41). He struck out only 10 teams in 169 at bats during 46 games, helping the Bulldogs to their first MACJC playoff berth since 2013.

"I don't know that there's a more deserving guy in the country to receive an award like this," Gulf Coast coach Rodney Batts said. "It's such a high honor. Brian's a first-class guy, a great young man and a good teammate. Obviously, he's a good player, but he's done so much for this program.

He had an 18-game hitting streak during the season. He threw out 15 of 28 base stealers and had a .990 fielding percentage.

Lane batted .357 as a freshman, driving in 13 runs in 22 games.

 "I learned how to play the game right," Lane said. "The coaches helped me through everything and they turned me into a ten-times-better ballplayer than I was before. The experience was great."

Lane is the school's 23rd NJCAA All-American since 1971, and one of only three from MACJC this year. He is the first All-American for Batts in his second year at Gulf Coast.

"Anytime you have a guy who becomes an All-American, it's recognition for the program," Batts said. "It speaks to where our program is headed. If I was able to get a team full of Brian Lanes, the character, attitude and work ethic, we'd be fine every year."

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