DOVER, Del. --- Delaware State freshman catcher Nick Gnardellis headlined the 2023 HBCU Baseball Large School Post Season Elites and Individual Awards as he was honored as the Freshman of the Year as announced by Black College Nines earlier today.
 
Gnardellis started in 37 of 40 games in his freshman year and made his presence known from the start. He recorded 33 hits highlighted by nine doubles and nine round trippers for a slugging percentage of .476. With 11 walks and being hit 10 times, he was on base at a clip of .321%. Gnardellis drove in 25 RBIs while also scoring 25 runs.
 
Defensively he recorded 132 put outs with nine assists and with only five errors, he finished the year with a fielding percentage of .966.  

Gnardellis also found himself on the list of one of the top HBCU baseball players where he was accompanied by teammate Trey Paige who was named to the Large School Division First Team for the second year in a row.
 
Paige finished his final year at Delaware State with 71 hits for his second-straight season of 70+ hits. Of his 71 hits, 15 were doubles, 14 were home runs and with two triples to boot he recorded a slugging percentage of .691. It was also his second consecutive season of double-digit home runs. Paige was walked 34 times and hit three times for an on base percentage of .468. He scored 55 times this year while driving in 53 runs.
 
Twenty-Eight HBCU baseball players have been named to the Black College Nines' Elite teams in our large school division for the 2023 season. Additional recognition is given to our Player, Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year, as well as to Sports Information Directors. First and second team selections were made in the large school division (made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs).
 
Selections were made based upon statistical information, mid-season reports including research provided by Black College Nines and both coaching staffs and their sports information directors. Player, pitcher and coach of the year awards were voted upon by Black College Nines and members of the national media.