BT Riopelle was named First Team All-SEC at catcher, while Wyatt Langford garnered Second Team All-SEC status in the outfield and Brandon Neely was honored on the Freshman All-SEC Team.
HOOVER, Ala. – Three Gators received All-SEC accolades on Monday afternoon in catcher BT Riopelle<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15114&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=IvYTzfNQE8Qc_dlOmAA9kkBy7PonSpXlIIW5w3nv98fXEM6aWAcKsM4M7nA5_soL&s=IUpoP3uGvNdhpDph0tXNDTssvwsLOI1BD9LQ8j8lYlU&e= >, outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15097&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=IvYTzfNQE8Qc_dlOmAA9kkBy7PonSpXlIIW5w3nv98fXEM6aWAcKsM4M7nA5_soL&s=F2VeeJwE5GnOe8O7ibuam6q3Q-go3UwMpkWQQcYEi-E&e= > and right-handed pitcher Brandon Neely<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15118&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=IvYTzfNQE8Qc_dlOmAA9kkBy7PonSpXlIIW5w3nv98fXEM6aWAcKsM4M7nA5_soL&s=wsLS19kkGqSOzT8Dm6VsknABJrS0NrjFVZ0IYv6zQUE&e= >, as announced by the conference office.
Riopelle was named First Team All-SEC at catcher, while Langford garnered Second Team All-SEC honors in the outfield. Neely was one of 12 players to be tabbed to the Freshman All-SEC Team. Monday’s announcement marks the first-ever All-SEC nods for all three Gators.
For Riopelle, the Gators backstop collects All-SEC recognition in his first season in the conference after transferring to Florida from Coastal Carolina. Riopelle led all SEC catchers with 14 home runs, 50 RBI and a .581 slugging percentage. The Marietta, Ga. native also owns a .306 batting average and .373 on-base percentage to go with 108 total bases, one triple, seven doubles, 33 runs and five stolen bases while turning in a .990 fielding percentage.
Despite being snubbed for Player of the Year and First Team honors, Langford collected a Second Team All-SEC nod in his first year as a college starter. The Florida left fielder has put together an all-time great campaign for the Orange & Blue, slashing .360/.452/.720 and becoming the sixth Gator to hit 20 or more home runs in a season, sitting at 21 big flies. The Trenton, Fla. native ranks tied for first in the SEC in home runs, tied for second with 61 runs scored, third with 152 total bases, third in slugging, tied for third with 76 hits, tied for seventh with 55 RBI, ninth in batting average and 10th in on-base percentage. In his first season playing in the outfield, Langford has produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 94 defensive chances.
As for Neely, the right-hander takes home Freshman All-SEC status in the midst of a stellar debut campaign in which he pitched himself into a weekend starter role. In seven starts since joining the rotation, Neely is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA, .173 batting average against and 44 strikeouts across 36 2/3 innings of work. All told, the Seville, Fla. native is 3-1 on the season with one save, a 3.38 ERA, .192 BAA and 64 strikeouts over 56 frames. He is coming off seven shutout innings in his most-recent start against South Carolina in which he struck out a career-high 10 batters to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
Florida kicks off the 2022 SEC Baseball Tournament on Tuesday against South Carolina at approximately 2 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of the Georgia-Alabama game at 9:30 a.m. ET.
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