Alec Trela's academic and athletic prowess a Memphis baseball home run
As a member of the University of Memphis baseball team, shortstop Alec Trela has turned his share of double plays.
Recently, the junior accomplished a similar feat in the classroom.
Trela earned Google Cloud Academic All-District honors in May. On June 6, it was announced that he was selected third-team Google Cloud Academic All-America. Chosen by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America, Trela becomes the program’s third honoree, joining Chad Zurcher and Tucker Tubbs in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
“It does just a really great job of representing sort of how the school operates as a whole,” said Trela, a biomedical engineering major. “I have an amazing support staff between baseball and engineering. I have a great professor in Dr. Joel Bumgardner. He’s been fantastic. This award is just a reflection of all the support I’ve gotten.”
Upon first declaring his major, Trela was pondering a career with prosthetics.
“But the more I looked into the degree, there’s really a boatload of things I can do,” he said. “Honestly, anything I can do to help people. I really got into this degree because my sister is disabled, and I just want to provide for people who haven’t had the easiest road in life.”
During a season where the Tigers posted a 27-28 record, Trela maintained his 4.0 grade-point average.
“It’s noticeably busy, but I like to be busy,” he said. “I’m not really the guy that likes to play video games and go off and waste time. I really enjoy hitting the books. If you work hard, you’re going to see results later in your life.”
The Bloomington, Illinois, native started every game at shortstop for the Tigers. Trela hit six home runs and 15 doubles, to go along with 32 RBI and 53 hits.
“For me, it’s just another great year of learning,” he said. “We, as a whole, did a great job of feeding off each other. I think we had some real big bats in the lineup. And when you have guys rolling like that, offense is infectious.”
Freshman Hunter Goodman, a former Arlington star, has landed spots on the Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-America team, the NCBWA Division I Freshman All-America first team and the Perfect Game Freshman All-America second team. Goodman was tops in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.326), runs (51), hits (78), home runs (13) and RBIs (67).
Senior center fielder and closer Colton Neel was an ABCA/Rawlings South All-Region second-team selection. The former MUS standout finished with 10 saves and batted a career-best .291.
DeSoto duo among Magnolia State's best
The Clinton-based Mississippi Association of Coaches recently released its list of 2019 coaches of the year, and DeSoto Central softball coach Phyllis Hicks and DeSoto County Schools athletic director Anthony Jenkins were honored.
Hicks guided the Jaguars (26-5) to their second consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state championship.
“Anytime I am recognized for hard work, it directly reflects the dedication and talent of the amazing young women I work with every day,” she said. “There are so many coaches across this state that work tirelessly to give the girls they coach an amazing high school experience.”
Teamwork was also emphasized by Jenkins, who spent more than two decades as a football coach and AD at Hernando, before arriving at the DCS central office.
“My name is on the award,” said Jenkins, “but actually it goes to all of the outstanding principals, athletic directors and coaches I get to work with on a daily basis.”
Tigers track and field athletes shine
The completion of the NCAA Outdoor Championships at the University of Texas afforded nine Memphis track and field athletes the opportunity to return home with All-America accolades.
Second-team honors went to: Calvin Austin III (400 relay), Andrew Bishop (400 relay), Davon DeMoss (400 relay and 100 meters), Tanalya Gordon (long jump), Mona Jaidi (javelin), Imri Persiado (400 relay), Ashley Pryke (javelin) and Julian Sanchez-Pinto (3000-meter steeplechase). Adar Sheere earned honorable mention in the discus.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact Chris Van Tuyl at christopher.vantuyl@commercialappeal.com.