EFSC catcher Eddiel Tolentino named to ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team

For the second straight season a catcher from Eastern Florida State College has been awarded the NJCAA Division I ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove.

Freshman Eddiel Tolentino was named the best defensive catcher in junior college on Wednesday afternoon.

The Kissimmee native had a .996 fielding percentage in 35 games last season with just one error. Tolentino caught 57 percent of the runners attempting to steal and had just one passed ball in 247 total chances. The catcher finished with 16 assists on the season.

He was also named to the first team All-Southern Conference team and won the Region 8 Gold Glove as well.

Tolentino becomes the third Eastern Florida State College player to win a NJCAA ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award in the past 10 seasons. Catcher Drew Cavanaugh won the award last season and outfielder Sammy Duran was awarded a Gold Glove in 2016.

Polk State College outfielder Nelson Taylor was also named to the Gold Glove Team.