By: Spencer Mathis
Assistant Sports Information Director
The Young Harris College baseball team has been nothing short of spectacular during the 2024 regular season; the Mountain Lions are 38-11 heading into the Conference Carolinas Tournament, and with winning that often, awards shower in. With the 38 wins put together by the Mountain Lions baseball team, head coach Stephen Waggener was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year for his team's performance throughout the 2024 regular season, that included a 13-game win streak near the tail end of the season.
Starting with Zachary Murray, the Mountain Lions ace was named Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year. Murray was sensational on the mound this year for Young Harris, recording a record of 9-0 in decision games for YHC. Zachary started 13 games for the Mountain Lions, posting an Earned Run Average of 2.56, with four complete games. Along with those numbers, Zachary K'd 86 opposing hitters, in 91.1 innings of work; additionally, Murray achieved a phenomenal 1.09 WHIP and held opponents to a batting average of just .223. Murray was also named Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference, just to stack up the awards for the Mountain Lions dominant RHP.
Freshman catcher and designated hitter Jack Enrico slashed a .371 batting average, with eight home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .681 SLG% for Young Harris during the 2024 regular season. Enrico put up these numbers, while only playing in 37 of the Mountain Lions 49 games, with just 31 starts. Along with the above statistics, Jack added 12 doubles, 43 hits, an OPS of 1.160, an on base percentage of .479, and tallied a combined 79 total bases. Moreover, he showed exceptional plate discipline that normally does not come from a freshman hitter, walking 19 times. Did we mention Jack Enrico was also named to the Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference squad as a catcher?
Junior reliever Dylan Beck was the Mountain Lions designated closer during the 2024 season, and he delivered all year long. Beck shoved for Young Harris, finishing the regular season with an exceptional ERA of 2.49, while pitching 65 innings throughout 22 appearances on the bump. Beck recorded 10 saves for YHC, while also going 8-2 in the W/L department. Dylan struck out 59 opposing batters, posted a 1.06 WHIP, and recorded a .221 opponent B/AVG; earning him Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference honors as a relief pitcher.
Jeremy Begora dominated last season, and he did much the same this year. Begora started all 49 games for the Mountain Lions during the 2024 season, recording team leading numbers in multiple statistical categories including: a batting average of .383, an OPS of 1.212, 64 hits, 15 doubles, 11 HRs, 50 RBIs, 114 total bases, 57 runs, 28 HBP's, a .529 on base percentage. Jeremy also walked 28 times, hit a triple, and stole five bases for the guys in light purple tops, and purple pinstripe bottoms. With the above numbers, Jeremy Begora was named to the Conference Carolinas Second Team All-Conference squad.
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