2014 NJCAA Division I Baseball National Pitcher of the Year

KYLE SIMONDS

Kyle Simonds simply had a spectacular All-America sophomore season in 2014 at Hutchinson Community College.

The NJCAA named Simonds as the 2014 NJCAA Division I Baseball National Pitcher of the Year, topping off the most accomplished season by any Blue Dragon baseball player in program history.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore right-handed starting pitcher from Grand Island, Nebraska, became Blue Dragon baseball’s first NJCAA First-Team All-American after racking up Jayhawk West Pitcher of the Year, first-team All-Jayhawk West and All-Region VI honors being named the Region VI Gold Glove winner as a pitcher this season.

Simonds finished the 2014 season as the national leader in pitching wins posting a 13-0 record in 13 starts. He becomes 11th Blue Dragon starting pitcher to post an undefeated season (record of 5-0 or better). He set a team season record for wins and best start to a season by a starting pitcher.

The Blue Dragon ace finished with a season earned-run average of 2.20. He set team records for strikeouts in a season with 103 (sixth in the NJCAA) and tied team season records for complete games (9) and shutouts (3). Simonds was second in the nation in complete games and fourth in the nation in shutouts.

In a team season record 94 innings pitched, Simonds allowed just 75 hits, 32 runs, 23 earned runs and walked just 12. Opponents hit just .210 against Simonds in 2014.

Simonds had six games of 10 or more strikeout, including a career-best 13 against Allen in Game 1 of the Region VI Tournament opening-round series at Hobart-Detter Field.

The future Texas A&M pitcher finished his Blue Dragon career with a 15-4 record and a 3.02 earned-run average. He is tied for fourth with Craig Reed (1999-2000) and Lewick (2009-10) for fourth on the career wins list. His ERA is 13th best in team history.

He threw 128 career innings (ranks seventh on HCC’s career list). His 123 career strikeouts rank sixth best in HCC history. His 10 complete games rank No. 5 on the career list and his three shutouts tie for fourth best in a career.


KYLE SIMONDS’ 2014 SUPERLATIVES
+ National Leader in Pitching Wins – 13
+ Team Record for Wins - 13
+ Tied Team Record For Complete Games/Shutouts
+ Team record 103 strikeouts (6th in NJCAA)
+ Six Games of 10 Or More Strikeouts
+ Career-High 13 Strikeouts vs. Allen
+ Jayhawk West Pitcher of the Year
+ First-Team All-Jayhawk West/Region VI
+ Region VI Gold Glove winner
+ First 1st-Team NJCAA All-American in HCC Baseball History
+ NJCAA Division I National Pitcher of the Year

KYLE SIMONDS' 2014 STATISTICS