NJCAA | Athletes of Distinction | David Rowlands Award

David Rowlands Award

Cory Patton Chosen for 2002 David Rowlands Award

The 2002 NJCAA David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year award was presented to Cory Patton, a baseball player from Seward County Community College, Liberal, Kansas.

Seward County finished the 2002 baseball season with a 50-16 record, and a runner-up finish in the Central District. Leading the Saints in hitting, Patton achieved a .454 batting average, with 31 home runs, 120 RBI's and an amazing slugging percentage of .962. All but the batting average became school records for Seward County. Patton also totaled an 8-1 record on the mound pitching for the Saints in 2002.

In addition to his baseball accomplishments at Seward County, Patton led the NJCAA Baseball All-Stars to a three games to two win over the Chinese Olympic Team in a series at USA Stadium in Millington, Tennessee. A dramatic home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning by Patton gave the NJCAA All-Stars a 5-4 victory and the win of the five game series.

Head baseball coach and athletic director at Seward County Community College, Galen McSpadden, said of Patton, "Cory is an outstanding young man who has represented Seward County Community College, the Seward County baseball program and the NJCAA in a very professional manner both on and off the field and in the classroom." Cory has managed a 2.73 GPA during his two years at Seward County and has committed to play baseball for Texas A&M University next year. Upon winning the award as the NJCAA 2002 Division I Baseball Player of the Year, Cory Patton became the second student-athlete this year from Seward County to garner such an award for their individual sport, Kim Ortega was named the NJCAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year for the 2001-2002 basketball season.

Following is a list of accomplishments for Cory Patton during his two years as a member of the Seward County Community College baseball program.

2000-2001
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Freshman of the Year
First Team All Jayhawk Conference

2001-2002
First Team All Jayhawk Conference as an Outfielder
First Team All Jayhawk Conference as a Pitcher
Jayhawk Conference Most Valuable Player
First Team Region VI (Number one selection)
First Team NJCAA Division I All-American
NJCAA Rawlings Big Stick Award for Central District
NJCAA - ABCA Division I Player of the Year
Led NJCAA in home runs with 31
Led NJCAA in RBI's with 120
Member of the NJCAA All-Star team vs. the Chinese Olympic Team