WESTERVILLE, OHIO - Otterbein University junior catcher Wes Meadows (Marion/Ridgedale) has been selected to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region first team, as picked by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

The honor marks the second-straight all-region appearance for Meadows, who landed on the second team a year ago as a sophomore. He is now eligible for All-America consideration, announced Thursday, May 24 at the World Series banquet in Appleton, Wisc.

“His numbers certainly speak for themselves,” head coach George Powell said. “He continues to be one of the top players in our conference and his level of consistency stands out more than anything. “He’s served as the leader of a young group of players and it’s a pleasure to see how he carries himself both as a player and a person. “He’s the heart and soul of our team.”

Meadows, who also recently earned second team all-region honors from D3baseball.com, has cemented his reputation as one of the top catchers in the Mideast since his arrival as a freshman. He finished the 2012 season in the top five of the Ohio Athletic Conference in home runs (7), slugging percentage (.632), RBIs (41), doubles (14), and total bases (84), and eighth with a .368 batting average. He started all 39 games behind the plate, posting a .965 fielding percentage and throwing out 12 runners.

“It’s an honor to receive this award again,” said Meadows, who fought back from an offseason ankle injury to play in 2012. “Thanks goes to God that I was even able to play this spring. It was a total miracle that I recovered from injury that quickly, but it’s a testament to my physical therapist Shelley Payne as well as Joe Wilkins and our entire training staff.”

With still a full season to go, Meadows already ranks in the top six all-time at Otterbein in doubles, triples, home runs, total bases, and slugging-percentage. He is currently two doubles shy of graduate assistant coach Bobby Wright’s all-time record of 39.

“I would never get any recognition if not for the guys hitting around me in the lineup,” said Meadows, who will play for the Edenton Steamers in the Coastal Plains League this summer. “Billy Harkenrider and Thomas Linder each had huge years hitting in front of and behind me. Their efforts and the maturation of our younger guys is definitely a sign of things to come as we move forward.”