Lawrence baseball players earn all-conference honors

(LAWRENCE ATHLETICS) APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University baseball standout Taylor Freeman was chosen as Midwest Conference Player of the Year, and four other Vikings were selected for the all-conference team.
A senior second baseman, Freeman is the third Lawrence player to be chosen as Position Player of the Year in the last four seasons. Jacob Charon was selected in 2022 and 2024. Pitcher Elden Santana and shortstop Tate Hartlaub were also chosen for the first team, and outfielder Edan Perez and pitcher Shane Foley were both chosen for the second team.
Freeman (Missouri City, Texas/Houston Christian) absolutely dominated pitching across the Midwest Conference. Freeman led the league with a .458 batting average and was first in slugging at .892 and first in OPS at 1.428.
Freeman led the league with 10 home runs, was second with 33 runs batted in and first with 34 runs scored. He led the league with 22 stolen bases, 10 better than second place.
On the season, Freeman hit .439 with nine doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 48 RBIs and 58 runs scored. Freeman also tied the school season record with 35 stolen bases. Freeman ranks in the top 20 in all of NCAA Division III in home runs per game, runs per game and stolen bases per game.
This is Freeman’s third all-conference selection. He was a first-team choice in 2022 and a second-team selection in 2024.
Santana (Brooklyn, N.Y./Berkeley Carroll) was a first-team selection for the second consecutive year. The senior right-hander went 4-1 in Midwest Conference play with a 1.96 earned run average. In 36.2 innings, Santana, who also picked up one save, struck out 34 and walked 22.
On the season, Santana posted a 6-1 record with one shutout and one save. In 57.2 innings, Santana struck out 61 and walked 32. Opponents hit just .204 against him. Santana finished his career with 17 victories and a school-record 233 strikeouts.
Hartlaub (Kiel, Wis./Kiel) was honored for the first time. The sophomore lead-off batter hit .373 in conference play with five doubles, one homer, 13 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He walked 15 times and posted a .465 on-base percentage.
Hartlaub was second on the team with a .354 batting average on the season. He finished with eight doubles, one homer, 20 RBIs and 40 runs scored. Hartlaub also swiped 17 bases on the season.
Perez (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) was chosen for the third consecutive season after earning first-team honors in 2023 and 2024. The senior outfielder hit .338 in conference play with six doubles, two homers, 13 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
He finished the season batting .350 with 15 doubles, one triple, six homers and 28 RBIs. Perez put together a distinguished career and set Lawrence’s career hits record with 221. A career .376 hitter, Perez finished with 46 doubles, nine triples, 36 home runs and 157 RBIs.
Foley (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) was chosen for the all-conference team for the first time. The team’s closer, Foley went 2-1 and notched two saves in league play while compiling a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings. He struck out 13 and walked six.
On the season, Foley went 3-1 with five saves and a 3.44 ERA. In 18.1 innings, he struck out 21 and walked 11. Foley finished his career with seven saves to set the Lawrence record.
Lawrence won the Midwest Conference regular-season title for the second consecutive season and third time in four years. The Vikings finished with an overall record of 21-19.