ENGLISH AND ATHERTON NAMED TO ALL-KCAC BASEBALL TEAMS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two of the best at the plate in the conference have earned All-KCAC selections. Avila senior left fielder Tommy English was named All-KCAC Second Team and right fielder Dylan Atherton was named All-KCAC Third Team.

English wrapped up one of the best offensive seasons in recent Avila history in 2026. The senior from Parowan, Utah, hit .390 with nine home runs, 35 RBI and 52 runs scored.

“Tommy was the driving force for our offense right from the start this year,” noted Avila head coach Matt Carpenter. “He worked so hard to improve from last year, and it showed. Tommy was our leader on the field and the emotional leader off of it. There is no one more deserving of this recognition than him.”

English's .390 batting average is the highest by an Eagle in the last five seasons by more than 40 points. English ranked in the top-10 in the KCAC in batting average and hits this regular season.

English finished the 2026 leading the Eagles in runs, hits, batting average, triples, walks and on-base percentage.

Wrapping up his two-year Avila career, English played in 82 games, hitting .331 with 10 home runs, 58 RBI, 70 runs scored and 48 walks.

One of the highlights of the 2026 Avila season came on April 11 when the Eagles put together a 10-run ninth inning to cap a six-run comeback at Tabor, which began with English’s grand slam in the ninth inning.

After a huge season at the plate and in the outfield, Dylan Atherton was selected All-KCAC Third Team.

Atherton finished his sophomore season slashing .342/.481/.678 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI and 40 runs scored.

Atherton smoked 19 doubles this season, which put him second in the KCAC in the regular season and his 10 home runs ranked No. 15 in the conference’s regular-season rankings.

“Dylan has always been a talented player and a hard worker,” said Carpenter.  “We expected him to be a big-time performer for us this year, and he delivered on those expectations.”

English and Atherton combined to finish either first or second in nearly every Avila offensive category this season.