Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications
The Grambling State University baseball team landed three student-athletes on the 2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Postseason All-Conference Teams, announced by the conference on Tuesday evening.
Cameron Bufford and Tiger Borom garnered first team honors while pitcher Mason Martinez earned second team recognition.
Bufford, the all-time career home run leader at GSU, had a dominant regular season, batting .337 with 43 RBI, eight doubles and six home runs. He has a slugging percentage of .491 and an OPS of .954. The South Holland, Ill. native also has 13 stolen bases on the season. Bufford made history on March 2 in a game versus Florida A&M, when he broke the GSU all-time home run record in a 3-2 victory over the Rattlers.
Borom, a senior from Jonesboro, Ga., had a phenomenal 2024 campaign. He’s batting .339 with 40 RBI, 16 doubles, two triples and four home runs His 16 doubles currently ranks him first in the SWAC. He’s also sixth in the conference in runs scored (56). He’s also proven to be patient at the plate, drawing 37 walks, the sixth most in the SWAC. Borom has been almost perfect on stolen base attempts, swiping 15 bases in 16 tries. In the field, he holds a .968 fielding percentage.
Martinez earned a spot on the second team following a regular season that saw him dominate opposing hitters and lead the SWAC in wins. Martinez went 10-2 as a starter. He ranks third in the SWAC with 73 strikeouts and his ERA of 4.50 ranks him fifth. He’s also proven to limit the power of opposing hitters. In 96.0 innings pitched, he’s only allowed two home runs, the least in the SWAC. His also seventh in opposing batting average, limiting hitters to a .266 average.
The Tigers will take on SWAC Eastern Division No. 3 seed Alabama State today at 12 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech.
All-SWAC Baseball Teams and Individual Award Winners
Co-Coach of the Year
Jamey Shouppe, Florida A&M
Co-Coach of the Year
Michael Robertson, Texas Southern
Player of the Year
Ali LaPread, Alabama State
Hitter of the Year
Edwin DeLaCruz, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Pitcher of the Year
Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Pablo Torres, Bethune-Cookman
Freshman of the Year
Juan Cruz, Alabama State
Newcomer of the Year
Tanner Boccabello, Bethune-Cookman
All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Edwin DeLaCruz, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
1B – Juan Cruz, Alabama State
2B – Randy Flores, Alabama State
3B – Cameron Bufford, Grambling State
SS – CJ Castillo, Texas Southern
DH – Jose Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Ali LaPread, Alabama State
OF – Tiger Borom, Grambling State
OF – Ty Jackson, Florida A&M
SP – Tanner Boccabello, Bethune-Cookman
SP – Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
RP – Pablo Torres, Bethune-Cookman
All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Broedy Poppell, Florida A&M
1B – Manny Souffrain, Bethune-Cookman
2B – True Fontenot, Florida A&M
3B – Adam Haidermota, Florida A&M
SS – Kyler McIntosh, Alabama State
DH – Myles White, Jackson State
OF – Janmikell Bastardo, Florida A&M
OF – Jordan McCladdie, Jackson State
OF – Michael Burroughs, Prairie View A&M
SP – Mason Martinez, Grambling State
SP – Ranard Grace, Southern
RP – Christian Womble, Jackson State
