BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lion baseball team was well-represented in the 2026 Mid-South Conference postseason awards, with eight different players recognized for their stellar play.

Brennen Gibson raked in two awards, including the Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year. Playing in all 47 of FHU's contests, Gibson swatted 11 home runs while driving in 47 runs. Connecting for 64 hits in 160 trips, Gibson's .400 batting average was the third-best for FHU. His numbers also led him be selected for the league's first All-Conference team.

Gibson joins three other Lions on the first team as an outfielder. A second outfielder to be honored is Drake Blackwood, while JJ Pruneau was chosen as one of the two top catchers. Hunter McLemore was selected as the "extra" player for his two-way prominence.

Blackwood led FHU with 18 home runs, sitting three shy of tying the single-season record. He led FHU with an .851 slugging percentage with a .403 overall batting average. Pruneau was one of the top catchers in the MSC, throwing out a league-high 25 runners attempting to steal; however, he was most dangerous from the plate. His .406 average led FHU while driving home 44 runs. Hunter McLemore was solid on both sides of the field, hitting at a .323 clip with 32 hits, but also from the mound where he punched out 49 batters while holding a record of 6-2 with a 5.91 ERA.

The Lion infield nearly swept the second team list with Trace Anderson, Brooks Jones, and Hunter Ryan earning selections. Anderson led FHU's hit category with 66 base knocks including 17 doubles.  Hit patience at plate showed as he drew an MSC-high 35 walks. Jones earned the nod after a season with a .370 batting average. With 22 doubles, Jones is three shy of the program record of 25 two-baggers. Ryan was a steady hand for the Lions no matter his spot in the batting order. He ended the regular season with a .311 batting average with 47 hits while his 38 steals put him at the fourth-most in a single season in FHU history.

Selected by the coaches based on fielding percentage and number of chances, three Lions were presented with the Gold Glove award. Pruneau was given the honor as catcher while Jones earned it as the third baseman. They were joined by Colton Bryant as the pitcher.
 

Position	Name	School
C	JJ Pruneau	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
C	Dylan LaRue	Cumberland (Tenn.)
1B	Wilser Then	Cumberland (Tenn.)
2B	Gaines Haussin	Cumberland (Tenn.)
SS	Caden Petrey	Cumberlands (Ky.)
3B	Johnboy Rittenhouse	Cumberlands (Ky.)
IF	Ronald Almanzar	Cumberlands (Ky.)
OF	Derick Andiarena	Cumberlands (Ky.)
OF	Drake Blackwood	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
OF	Brennen Gibson	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
OF	Tate Wischnack	Campbellsville (Ky.)
DH	Pedro Vasquez	Cumberlands (Ky.)
SP	Brenden Bratcher	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
SP	Justin Cortez	Cumberlands (Ky.)
SP	Wesley Culley	Cumberlands (Ky.)
SP	Mateo Santos	Cumberland (Tenn.)
RP	Brayden Stewart	Cumberlands (Ky.)
EXTRA	Hunter McLemore	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)

 
 

Position	Name	School
C	Clay Shelton	Cumberlands (Ky.)
1B	Bryce Sidler	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
2B	Hunter Ryan	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
SS	Trace Anderson	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
3B	Brooks Jones	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
OF	Orion Hahm-Taklender	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
OF	Justin Veloz	Cumberlands (Ky.)
OF	Adriel Vega	Bethel (Tenn.)
DH	Andres Duran	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
SP	Carter Whitefield	Cumberland (Tenn.)
RP	Ashton Deskins	Georgetown (Ky.)
RP	Kyle Lambert	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)

 

Position	Name	School
C	JJ Pruneau	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
1B	Wilser Then	Cumberland (Tenn.)
2B	Joaquin Hernandez	Campbellsville (Ky.)
SS	Caden Petrey	Cumberlands (Ky.)
3B	Brooks Jones	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
LF	Aidan McDonald	Cumberland (Tenn.)
CF	Caden Davis	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
RF	Zayden McCaslin	Bethel (Tenn.)
P	Colton Bryant	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)