When Shaun McCarty got a phone call from his Paradise Valley Community College baseball coach in June, his baseball career went to a whole new level.

His coach called to inform McCarty that he had won the National Junior College Athletic Association National Rawlings Gold Glove for the shortstop position.

This award is given annually by Rawlings in conjunction with the American Baseball Coaches Association and the National Junior College Athletic Association. Nine players at the Division II level, one per position, were honored for their outstanding defensive play during the 2012 season.

“Defense is the cornerstone of the Rawlings brand,” said Rawlings President and General Manager Robert Parish when the winners were announced. “The 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipients at the NJCAA level are incredibly talented and are well on their way to earning a place amongst the most famous defensive greats in the game.”

For the full story, see the Wednesday, July 18, edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.