The Washington baseball team held its end of year cookout Thursday night at Futrell Field to celebrate the 2017 season. The Pam Pack had a good year and finished with a 15-8 record, including its first playoff win since 2009 and a second place finish in the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference. The team celebrated the season with individual honors as well.

Three juniors swept team honors as Frederick Holscher won the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award, Chris Sulc won the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and Cooper Anderson won the Most Improved Player award.

Holscher led the team in hitting with a .329 batting average on 26 hits. Sulc’s defensive abilities to play first, second, and third base throughout the year while sporting a sterling .966 fielding percentage led to his award. Cooper’s catching abilities shined all year. His growth from his sophomore to junior year was evident, as well as his ability to handle the Pam Pack’s deep pitching staff. All three juniors look to be key leaders for the 2018 version of the team.

Four players earned 2-A Eastern Plains All-Conference honors for 2017. The senior trio of Matt Black, Tripp Barfield, and Logan Little, as well as Sulc was selected by conference coaches to receive the honor.

Black started in centerfield for four years, and 2017 was his most successful campaign. Black was second on the team in hitting with a .294 average on 20 hits, first in steals with 16 stolen bases, and first in runs scored with 25 plate touches. His leadoff prowess often jump-started the offense. In the field, Black’s speed led to lock-down centerfield defense as he sported a .970 fielding percentage with 32 put outs in 33 chances.

Barfield, a UNC-Asheville commit, earned his second consecutive All-Conference selection with a strong all-around game. Barfield led the team with a 7-1 pitching record and a 1.14 ERA. He recorded 58 strikeouts and issued only 16 walks in 55 innings of work. Offensively, Barfield hit for a .286 average on 18 hits, and tied for second on the team with 16 RBI.

Little earned his first All-Conference selection by leading the team with 21 RBI while batting .273 on 18 hits. Little held down right field with a .938 fielding percentage with 15 put outs in 16 chances. Little was a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.

Sulc’s all-around game led to his first All-Conference selection. Sulc batted .284 on 21 hits and tied with Barfield with 16 RBI. Sulc led the team with seven doubles. He tied for second on the team with six steals, in addition to his broad defensive skills. On the mound, the junior was 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA. He struck out 36 while issuing only eight walks in 30 innings of work.

It was a successful year for Washington. With a nucleus of experienced juniors returning, and talented sophomores on the rise, next year promises to be just as successful a year for the Pam Pack.