HOBBS, NM---The University of the Southwest Baseball program earned a prestigious award over the summer from the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced that USW was one of 29 NAIA institutions to win the award. The Team Academic Excellence Award is given to programs who earned a 3.0 GPA or better for the 2019-2020 academic year. 

"I am thrilled our guys pulled off such great grades after we had to send them home" said Head Coach Steve Appel. "It shows the dedication they have towards getting a degree and finishing a semester that ended poorly for them on the field.  Being the only 4 year institution in the state of New Mexico recognized for this award really shows that we put education first.  We will continue to push our guys in the future as we continue to always try and better ourselves the next year."


USW is one of 2 teams from the state of New Mexico to win the award, with New Mexico Military Institute being the other. This is the 2nd time that USW has earned the award during Head Coach Steve Appel's six year tenure at USW.