LSU Eunice’s Jack Merrifield and Hunter Tabb are Rawlings Gold Glove winners.
The Bengals duo have been selected to the 2021 NJCAA Division II Baseball ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team, the organization announced on Wednesday. Merrifield and Tabb are part of the nine-player team that was determined by the NJCAA Div. II Baseball Committee.
“Our defense was the heart and soul behind our success this season and these two young men were a big part of it,” LSU Eunice coach Jeff Willis said. “Jack and Hunter worked incredibly hard in all areas both on and off the field, and I am incredibly happy for them to receive this recognition.”
Merrifield sported a .987 fielding percentage with only three errors on 235 chances. The sophomore also added 105 putouts, 127 assists and helped turned 32 double plays.
Merrifield also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in both the Regionals and World Series, logging 20 putouts and 37 assists in LSUE’s 11 postseason games.
Tabb meanwhile recorded a .990 fielding percentage at first base. The Acadiana High School product produced 391 putouts and 10 assists while being part of 36 double plays.
Tabb is the first ever LSUE first baseman to receive the Gold Glove award.
The infielders were part of what is statistically the best fielding team in LSU Eunice baseball history, as the Bengals recorded a team fielding percentage of .971 with only 55 errors committed on 1,917 chances.
Merrifield will go on to play for LSU while Tabb will suit up for Southern University.