Orlando, Fla. – On the eve of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Championship, four Knights were selected to the league's year-end All-Conference teams. Outfielder Jordan Rathbone was the lone Knights picked to the First Team, while pitcher Colton Gordon, catcher Josh Crouch, and outfielder Gephry Pena were named to the Second Team.
It is the first time each Knight has received year-end, conference honors.
FIRST TEAM: Jordan Rathbone
SECOND TEAM: Colton Gordon, Josh Crouch, Gephry Pena
In his first full season as a starter, redshirt senior Jordan Rathbone garners his first career First Team selection, a unanimous selection, at the conclusion of the 2-21 campaign. The Spokane, Wash. native leads the club with 14 long balls, which is second in The American and tied for 8th among UCF's single-season batting records.
The senior enters the conference tournament among the leaders in a number of categories, including leading the AAC in HBP with 20, fifth in RBI with 46, fourth after tallying 119 total bases. Rathbone is also the only member of the Black and Gold to start and play in all 56 games.
Southpaw Colton Gordon picked up Second Team All-Conference honors, after having his season cutshort due to injury. Gordon finished the year with a 2.77 ERA across nine starts, amassing a 5-2 record. He tallied 72 strikeouts, which still leads the Knights despite not making an appearance in a game since April 16.
At the time of Gordon's last outing, his 72 strikeouts put him 11th in the nation and first in The American. He was also 4th in the American and 85th in the nation with his 2.77 ERA.
Josh Crouch made an impact at the plate and behind the plate for the Knights, picking up a Second Team All-Conference nod. The junior posted a .302 clip and was the only UCF batter to finish the season over .300. With 11 homers on the year, Crouch carries a .516 SLG% and has picked up 30 RBI.
Patrolling centerfield for the Knights throughout 2021, Gephry Pena rounds out the Second Team honors for the UCF baseball team. Pena led the squad and the conference with 26 stolen bases, only being caught three times on the year. The sophomore carried a .284 batting average and tallied 13 extra bases while driving in 22 RBI and scoring 34 runs.
UP NEXT
The No. 5 seeded UCF baseball team will go up against the No. 4-seeded Cincinnati on Tuesday morning, first pitch is set for 9 a.m. The last time the two clubs met, the Knights and Bearcats split the four-game series in Cincinnati. Marc Daniels will have the call on FM96.9/AM740 The Game. The American Athletic Conference Championship will also be aired on ESPN+.
CLICK HERE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF Baseball on social media on Facebook (/UCF.Baseball), Twitter (UCF_Baseball) and Instagram (UCF.Baseball).
