GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 3, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University baseball players Luis Navarro and Larry Leitha were honored on American Baseball Coaches of America All-Region Teams, which were announced on Wednesday.
 
Navarro, LCU's catcher during the 2021 season, was named to the South Central All-Region First Team, while Leitha made the All-Region Second Team as an outfielder.
 
The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee. The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 13,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.
 
This is the third All-Region honor of the year for Navarro, who was named to both the NCBWA and D2CCA All-Region Second Team, but it is the first time he has been honored on the All-Region First Team. The junior, who started 46 games, mostly at catcher, was the team's leading hitter with a .405 average while walking 33 times for a .509 on-base percentage. He clubbed 13 doubles, one triple and 10 home runs for a slugging percentage of .649 and drove in 48 runs while scoring 54 times himself. Navarro at one point had a hitting streak of 30 straight games, and he reached base at least once in the Chaps' final 38 games of the season. The Panama native was also a force behind the plate, catching 25 runners stealing, which was far and away the most in the Lone Star Conference.
 
Leitha is being recognized on his second All-Region Second Team after also earning the honor from the NCBWA. The All-Lone Star Conference First Team selection missed some time throughout the year, playing in only 32 of LCU's 47 games, but posted eye-popping numbers when he was in the lineup. He was Lubbock Christian's leading home run hitter with 14, despite just 124 at-bats, and added in four doubles and one triple for a .718 slugging percentage. Three times during the season he hit multiple home runs in one game. Leitha hit .331 overall, driving in 40 runs and scoring 37 times himself while reaching base at a .423 clip. Playing center field, he had a .977 fielding percentage and four assists.
 
Lubbock Christian ended their season on a hot streak winning 15 of their final 23 games and advancing all the way to the LSC Championship, despite entering the tournament as the No. 6 seed. They finished 23-24 overall.  
 
ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Americans will be announced on Friday, June 4. The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams for all divisions will be announced Wednesday, June 23.