COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three members of the Benedict College baseball team have been recognized to the 2025 Black College Nines Small School All-Elite teams.
 
Junior catcher Juan Guardado and utility player Isaiah Canty were both named to the first team. Pitcher Brailin Duran was named to the third team.
 
This past season, Guardado was named First Team All-SIAC at catcher, as well as ABCA/Rawlings All-Region. Guardado led the SIAC in multiple offensive categories this season, leading the SIAC in home runs (15), home runs per game (0.43), slugging percentage (.960) and bases on balls (50). He also was fourth in the SIAC in batting average (.424).
 
Canty was named first-team All-SIAC as an outfielder. Canty ranked ninth in the SIAC in batting average (.371) and seventh in hits per game (1.36). He led the SIAC in runs scored (66) and runs per game (1.69), and was sixth in RBIs per game (1.18). He was also second in the league in triples (5) and triples per game (0.13).
 
Duran was the ace of the Tiger staff this season, going 5-1 on the mound with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He ranked second in the SIAC in strikeouts (71).
 
Forty-nine HBCU baseball players have been named to the Black College Nines' Small School Elite teams for the 2025 season. Additional recognition is given to our Player, Pitcher, Freshman, Coach and SID of the Year.  First, second and third team selections are made up of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and National Christian College Athletic Association 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. 
 
Black College Nines was founded in 2009, as a site dedicated to telling the historical story of HBCU baseball.  Soon after going online with blackcollegenines.com, an opportunity arose and with overwhelming encouragement, we expanded our coverage. While still honoring HBCU baseball's past, Black College Nines became the "go to" site for coverage of HBCU baseball's current happenings.  
 
Black College Nines proudly serves the college baseball community as the only website dedicated solely to black college baseball on all levels.  From the season-long polls we run, to the student-athlete superlatives recognized at season's end, school administrators, coaches and even past and present HBCU ballplayers express their gratitude for the importance of what we do.
 
For a complete list, visit www.blackcollegenines.com