DALLAS, Texas - On the heels of claiming the 2024 American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship, the Concordia Texas baseball team landed ten student-athletes on the All-ASC roster. Colby Christian & Efren Sanchez Jr. were both recognized individually by the ASC, the league's office announced on Wednesday.

Christian, a sophomore outfielder for the Tornados, claimed ASC Newcomer of the Year. The slugger was also listed as on the All-ASC First Team. He amassed 48 hits with nine doubles and tied with a team-high nine home runs. Christian added three triples, batted in 37 runs, and scored 28 times. Christian was a key cog in the team's 2024 ASC Championship run and was a member of the ASC All-Tournament Team. This is the second season in a row that a Tornado was named the ASC Newcomer of the Year, as Chris Morrow earned the honor last season.

Sanchez Jr. was voted Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. The catcher was also named on the 2024 ASC Baseball All-Tournament Team and a member of the All-ASC Honorable Mention Team. The senior is one of only three Tornados to have competed in all 43 games this season. He totaled 24 runs, 23 RBIs, 17 walks, and has caught 15 runners stealing this season. In his career, Sanchez Jr. has a total of 47 throw outs, and sits second all-time behind Ryan Clouse (59).

Joining Christian on the All-ASC First Team were a pair of pitchers in Otto Franz & Mason Brandenberger. Franz, a senior from Austin, ranked fourth in the conference in both wins (7) and ERA (3.06). The southpaw started 13 games and struck out a team-high 53 batters in 70.2 innings. Franz also claimed an ASC Player of the Week nod back in March when he tossed a one-hit shutout in a victory over Hardin-Simmons.

Brandenberger, a junior college transfer from Temple College, was excellent as a relief pitcher for CTX. The junior was second in the ASC with a dominant 1.97 ERA. He posted 38 strikeouts in 45.2 innings (17 appearances). Brandenberger also led the conference with four saves, including a save in the championship game against UT Dallas in the ASC Championships. 

Ryan Bailey and Julian Swift received All-ASC Second Team honors. Swift was extrodinary as the leadoff hitter in all 42 games he competed in this season. The sophomore broke his own school record from a year ago when he tallied a 25-game hit streak this season. The shortstop ranked second on the team with a .346 batting average. He also racked up 85 total bases, 38 runs, and 34 RBIs. Swift also showed power in the ASC Tournament where notched the first three homeruns of his collegiate career and was named to the All-Tournament team.

Bailey was a consistent presence as reliever for the Tornados. The senior is a local product from Gerogetown, Texas. He made 14 appearances and claimed a 2-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and with an outstanding, team-best WHIP of .84. Bailey struck out 26 batters and only gave up 23 runs in 28.2 innings of action. The opposing batting average against Bailey was only .202.

A trio of infielders in Aaron Gomez, Zach Seigrist, and Dakota Palmer were appointed to the All-ASC Third Team. Gomez was slotted in the two-hole as a second baseman for a bulk of the season. He led the team and ranked in the ASC Top-10 with 28 walks. He also led the Tornados with a .465 OB% The senior was also first on the team with seven hit-by-pitches. Gomez (.317) tallied 42 total bases with 29 runs and 14 RBIs. 

Seigrist was a true two-way player as an outfielder this season. Appearing in all 43 games this season, he ranked third on the team with six homeruns, 29 runs scored, and .507 SLG%. Saving his best for the big show, Seigrist tallied a career-high seven RBIs in the ASC Championship game against UT Dallas. Seigrist was also named to the ASC All-Tournament Team.  

Palmer, a starting pitcher for the Tornados, was a fixture in the rotation once again this season. Making 13 starts this season, Palmer claimed three wins and kept Concordia alive to win a few more. He ranked third fourth on the team and ninth in the ASC with a 3.59 ERA. He also averaged a 1.21 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and only 17 walks in a team-high 72.2 frames of action. 

Rounding out the All-ASC nods is Morrow, a first baseman who collected Honorable Mention honors. Morrow was dominant at the plate and at first base in all 43 games for the Tornados. He led the team in almost every statistical category with a .353 BA, 1.041 OPS, .623 SLG%, 104 total bases, 47 RBIs, 31 runs scored, 10 doubles, four triples, five sacrifice flies, and nine homeruns. The senior was also named the ASC Tournament MVP for his exceptional play.

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