By CARSON WERNER
Nick Rowland excelled on the baseball field for an Avon squad coming off a state title and finished the 2019 season with 12 wins and a spot in the C1 sectional quarterfinals as the No. 7 seed. The 6-foot-2 senior collected 20 hits in 62 at-bats (.323 batting average) last year, including three doubles and a home run. Rowland’s lone home run was a grand slam on May 15th in a 10-2 win over Warsaw.
Rowland’s batting average and hits both ranked second on the team. He tied for first in plate appearances (77), was second in both runs batted in (18) and slugging percentage (.419) and fourth in on-base percentage (.429). Rowland scored 17 runs, drew 11 walks, stole six bases and was hit by a pair of pitches as well.
In 2018, Rowland appeared in six games, including the state semifinal and championship games. He garnered three RBI on two hits and scored three runs. Rowland drew two walks and was hit by a pitch as well.
On the mound, Rowland posted a 3-0 record with a 3.37 earned run average in seven appearances, including six starts. The 6-foot-2 senior finished second in both batters faced (109) and innings (27) and third in strikeouts (21).
Defensively, Rowland only committed three errors in 108 total chances (.972 fielding percentage). The 6-foot-2 senior turned three double plays, recorded eight assists and 97 put outs as well.
Avon’s 12 wins last season included victories over Class B2 sectional champion LeRoy and sectional semifinalist Caledonia-Mumford.
Besides baseball, Rowland was the quarterback of the football team and the starting power forward on the basketball team. On the court, the 6-foot-2 senior averaged a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards for an Avon squad which won their first sectional title in over a decade. Rowland was one of two frontcourt players recording a double-double for the Braves. Sophomore Zach Colvin netted 13 points and corralled 11 rebounds per game as well.
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