Baseball 04.30.25 By: Daniel Gallegos

Dave Dawson named GAC Coach of the Year; Cole Dawson and Tyler Sardelli First Team selections

Baseball 04.30.25 By: Daniel Gallegos

Dave Dawson named GAC Coach of the Year; Cole Dawson and Tyler Sardelli First Team selections

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Wednesday, the Great American Conference announced its annual All-Conference team and superlative awards for baseball. In that announcement, Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Dawson was named the league's Coach of the Year while four players were lauded with all-conference acclaim.

OFFICIAL ALL-GAC RELEASE

In addition to Dawson receiving Coach of the Year honors, the Wonder Boys got First Team All-GAC recognition for Cole Dawson (shortstop) and Tyler Sardelli (first base), while Danie Hutchison (starting pitcher) was named Second Team All-GAC. Additionally, Sawyer Duddleston (outfield) was selected as an Honorable Mention All-GAC performer while Dawson added All-Defensive Team honors.

DAVE DAWSON
For Dawson, this is his second GAC Coach of the Year award. His first came back in the historic 2014 season in which Dawson led the Wonder Boys to a 44-12 overall record and hosted the Central Region Tournament.

This year, Dawson led Tech through another daunting schedule that featured one of the toughest non-conference slates in all of Division II as six of their seven non-GAC opponents have all won at 30 games to this point in the season. Currently at 29-19 overall, Dawson has the Wonder Boys on the doorstep of their ninth 30-win season under him.

In being named the 2025 GAC Coach of the Year, Dawson has guided this year's Wonder Boys to their fourth GAC Regular Season Championship and their second out-right conference title as well since 2014. Including this most-recent conference championship, three of those have come since 2021.

COLE DAWSON
In his second season at Tech, Dawson has developed into one of the more consistent hitters in the lineup and is currently leading the team and the GAC in batting average at .401 (73-for-182). Playing and starting in 46 games thus far, Dawson is also among the team and league-leaders in runs scored, hits, sac bunts, stolen bases and at-bats. Dawson also is currently slugging .489 thanks to seven doubles, three triples and a home run.

TYLER SARDELLI
In his first full season in the everyday lineup, Sardelli has broken out as one of the top hitters on the team and in the GAC. Currently in the top-10 in the GAC in seven major offensive categories, Sardelli ranks in the top-five in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits and triples.

Playing and starting in 46 games, mostly at first base, Sardelli is currently hitting .377 (66-for-175) with 52 runs scored, nine doubles, four triples, nine home runs and has driven in 39.

DANIEL HUTCHISON
In his first year at Tech, Hutchison has established himself as a top of the rotation arm and has settled into that role down the stretch. Appearing in 13 games overall and making 12 starts, Hutchison is currently 7-2 with a 4.90 ERA. He has two complete games and in 68.0 innings of work, has struck out 62 batters.

Hutchison is currently in the top-10 in the GAC in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts and wins.

SAWYER DUDDLESTON
In the midst of a major bounce back year, Duddleston is now a two-time All-GAC player after first earning the honor in 2023. This year, Duddleston is leading the team in RBIs with 44 and has played and started in all 48 games thus far.

He is currently batting .303 (50-for-165) with 43 runs scored, 13 doubles, a triple and six home runs. He is also leading the conference and ranks in the top-10 nationally in hit-by-pitch with 24. That, along with 28 walks has helped Duddleston have an on-base percentage of .462.

Off the field, the Wonder Boys had three be named GAC Elite Scholar-Athletes with unblemished 4.0 GPAs and 12 be named to the GAC Honor Roll for cumulative GPAs over 3.5.

Listed among the Elite Scholar-Athletes are: Dayton Francis, Simon Murray and Kolby Webb.