Bannon, Lowther Named to 2017 Mideast-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team

CINCINNATI - Rylan Bannon and Zac Lowther were both named to the 2017 Northeast-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Teams on Wednesday, marking the first time the program has had two players recognized on the team.

Bannon, who was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, is the first XU player to earn All-Region First Team honors. Lowther is third Musketeer to ever be named to the second team.

ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans will be announced on Saturday, June 17.

The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team finalists will be announced on Twitter on Monday, June 19, and the Gold Glove winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 21.

Bannon was named the 2017 BIG EAST Player of the Year and put together a standout performance in the NCAA Tournament as XU qualified for a second straight regional final in Louisville.

The junior third baseman made several spectacular defensive plays at the Louisville Regional, while also putting together a .563 (9-of-16) batting average in XU's four games. Bannon has performed against high-level pitching in each of XU's trips to the national tournament, batting .455 in eight NCAA Tournament games with three home runs, and 12 RBI.

He finished the 2017 season with a .339 batting average, 15 homers, 50 RBI and a BIG EAST-leading .633 slugging percentage. Bannon's 15 homers were tied for third-most in a single season in XU program history.

Lowther has been one of the top strikeout artists at the NCAA Division I level all season long. After leading the prestigious Cape Cod League in strikeouts last summer, Lowther has been mentioned as the top MLB Draft prospect in the BIG EAST all season long.

An All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Lowther set the Xavier single season strikeout record in 2017 with 123 punchouts -- a number which ranks 12th nationally. Lowther is also fifth nationally in hits per nine innings (5.18) and fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (13.28).

He capped the season with a 2.92 ERA and a 5-5 record, while fanning 123 in 83.1 innings. The junior lefty allowed just 48 hits and a .164 opponent batting average. In BIG EAST play, he was even more dominant with a 2.25 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 32 innings.

He allowed just 15 hits in six league starts, holding conference opponents to a .134 batting average.

FULL TEAM

ABOUT THE ABCA

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 8,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 74th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 4-7, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

ABOUT RAWLINGS

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit http://www.Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.

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