Baseball: Compton earns baseball MVP honor in Alaska + Leonards Recognized

Lafayette, The Advertiser, July 24, 2012

Special to the Advertiser

A strong performance in the Alaska Baseball League this summer has landed Ragin’ Cajuns rising junior Chase Compton lofty honors.

On Monday, it was revealed that Compton was named the 2012 Alaska Baseball League Player of the Year. The Slidell native, a member of the Anchorage Bucs, was also the recipient of the Silver Slugger award.

Compton, who hit better than .400 for most of the summer session, is presently leading the ABL with a .396 average in league contests. He had two different nine-game streaks in which his season average remained above .400.

The left-handed slugger ranks Top 10 in the ABL in runs scored (26), base hits (38), doubles (9) and home runs (6).

Through 35 total games played (league play and exhibition), Compton is hitting .408, scored 31 runs, posted 21 RBI and belted six home runs, three triples and 11 doubles.

Compton was named to the ABL All-League first team at the utility position. He’s seen time at first and third base for the Bucs over the summer.

Current Cajuns teammate Ryan Leonards also received all-league recognition from the ABL, collecting second team honors at third base.

Leonards, a summer teammate of Compton with the Anchorage Bucs, is hitting .313 and slugging .504 with five doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in all contests. In league play, the Crowley native is hitting .295 and has generated nine multiple-hit games and posted at least one hit in all but nine of 27 games played.

The all-league honors marked additional recognition for Compton and Leonards for their time spent with the Bucs this summer. The duo was selected to the ABL South All-Star team this past Saturday

Eight days remain in the ABL season. Teams took a break from league action Sunday for the annual home run derby and all–star game at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. The Bucs’ season finale is set for Sunday.