gavin cross named to all-acc teams after historic freshman season

Sam Alves

May 24, 2021

Gavin Cross high-fives his teammates during lineup introductions against Virginia on May 2. (Virginia Tech Athletics)

BLACKSBURG — Gavin Cross is no ordinary freshman.


After being named a 2020 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American outfielder in a pandemic-shortened, 16-game season that didn’t count toward a year of his NCAA eligibility, Cross’ standout 2021 campaign earned him a spot on the All-ACC First Team and All-Freshman Team, the conference announced today.


Primarily starting in right field, Cross led the conference in hits (70) and triples (5) and Virginia Tech (27-23, 16-20 ACC) in home runs (11), doubles (13), steals (9) slugging (.643) and, among players averaging two plate appearances per game, on-base percentage (.425).


Cross’ third triple of the year came in his second at-bat of Virginia Tech’s 15-5 win at East Tennessee State — where his father played college ball — on April 6, a game in which he cycled, recording a team season-high seven RBIs.


Three weeks later, perhaps feeling the pressure to repeat in front of a home crowd, he managed just a two-RBI double, two singles, a run and a steal in a 12-0 win over ETSU.


Cross is the first Virginia Tech freshman to receive All-ACC First Team honors and the first Hokie on the All-Freshman Team since starting pitcher Ian Seymour, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 57th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, in 2018.


Cross was the lone Hokie named to an all-conference team ahead of this week’s ACC Baseball Championship, where Tech will play Virginia and Notre Dame in group play.


The Cavaliers’ trio of starting pitcher Andrew Abbott (All-ACC First Team), third baseman Zack Gelof (All-ACC Second Team) and designated hitter Kyle Teel (All-ACC Third and All-Freshman Team) await the Hokies Tuesday.


On Wednesday, they will face the All-ACC First Team duo of starting pitcher John Micael Bertrand and first baseman Niko Kavadas and All-ACC Second Team pair of reliever Tanner Kohlhepp and designated hitter Carter Putz and their manager, ACC Coach of the Year Link Jarrett.


Cross will have to be that dude for the Hokies to play any further.