Hutchins, Altaffer named to ABCA/Rawlings All-Region 7 Team

By Wes Mayberry 

| 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region Teams | 

ADA — Ohio Northern senior pitcher Jack Hutchins (Bright, Ind./East Central) and sophomore pitcher Blake Altaffer (Montpelier) were named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region 7 Team for the 2023 season.

Hutchins was named to the All-Region 7 Second Team, and Altaffer earned Third Team honors. They were among 50 players selected from Region 7 and divided among First, Second and Third teams. The teams were voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

These honors come after Hutchins and Altaffer were named All-Region 7 by D3baseball.com on Monday. Hutchins earned First Team recognition, while Altaffer was a Second Team selection.

Hutchins was an All-Ohio Athletic Conference First Team selection this season after posting a 7-2 record with a 1.91 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 66 innings spanning 12 appearances, including nine starts. He ranked third in the OAC in ERA, tied for sixth in wins and ninth in strikeouts.

In four years at ONU, Hutchins has a career 10-3 record with a 4.25 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 27 appearances spanning 84.2 innings.

Altaffer was a 2023 All-OAC Second Team honoree after finishing the season with an 8-1 record and one save to go with a 2.19 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 11 appearances, including seven starts, spanning 53.1 innings. His season highlight was a complete-game five-hitter with eight strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Cornell (Iowa) on March 15. He was tied for third in the OAC in wins and ranked fourth in ERA.

The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. III All-America teams will be announced on Thursday. First Team All-Region selections are eligible for All-America honors.

The ABCA Region All-Defensive teams for all divisions will be announced on Monday, June 19. The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams for all divisions will be announced on Wednesday, June 21.

Under 12th-year head coach Gene Stechschulte, the Polar Bears finished 27-15 overall in 2023, placing third in the OAC with a 12-6 league mark en route to earning their 20th all-time appearance in the OAC Tournament.