SIOUX FALLS -- Redshirt junior outfielder Connor King of the University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team was named to the All-NSIC Defensive Team for the 2022 season as part of the end of the season baseball awards announcement by the league office.

King, a criminal justice major from Rapid City, S.D., native, helped lead USF to its best season at the DII level with a 25-25 overall record and a 17-18 conference record. Led by King's solid work on defense, the Cougars advanced to the NSIC Postseason Tourney for a second straight year while recording the most wins (25) by the program at the DII level. King and his teammates will be seeded No. 7 and face No. 2 seeded St. Cloud State at 6 pm on Wednesday, May 11 at Ronken Field in the opening round of the NSIC Baseball Tournament.

For the junior centerfielder, he earned his second straight All-NSIC defensive honor and is one of the elite defenders in the region, if not nationally. In 2021, he was the only NSIC player and one of nine named to the  ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team. The Gold Glove Awards are selected by ABCA coaches committee.  

In playing 45 games (38 starts) in 2022, King had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage for a second straight season, accumulating two assists and nine putouts. At the plate, he hit .256 with a .394 OBO and eight stolen bases in nine attempts. He totaled 32 hits in 125 at bats with 29 runs and had a home run, triple and 21 RBI. In the past 99 games, King has not committed an error. In his career he has 321 putouts with 18 assists. At the plate, he has four home runs, 61 RBI, 127 hits with 112 runs and 42 steals in 56 attempts.

In 44 games in the 2021 season, King, an Academic All-NSIC performer, excelled in the outfield, fielding 1.000 percent, with 93 putouts, six assists, and no errors, along with numerous dazzling plays in the outfield. From the batter's box, King hit .293 on the season, with 41 runs on 43 hits in 147 at bats. He totaled five doubles, two triples, two home runs, 19 RBI, and 58 total bases. King had a .395 slugging percentage on the year and a team-best 450 on-base percentage, with 14 steals in 20 attempts. 

In his sophomore season with USF, King led the team with a .390 average with 10 RBI and a .537 slugging percentage, which was good for second highest on the team. On the season, King stole six bases in six attempts and also led the team with a .581 OBP. On defense, King tallied a 1.000 fielding percentage with 30 putouts and one assist, while he played and started in all 13 games. He had 16 hits in 41 at bats with nine runs scored, and he had two doubles and two triples with 22 total bases. He was named to the Academic All-NSIC Team.

King joined the Cougar family back in 2019, coming to USF from Rapid City Stevens High School in Rapid City, SD. In his first season with the Coo, he hit .243 with one home run, 11 RBI, and a .304 slugging percentage. He stole 14 bases and had a .402 on-base percentage, which were both second best on the team. On defense, King had a .959 fielding percentage with 107 putouts and nine assists in the outfield. Overall, he played in 48 games with 47 starts, had 36 hits in 148 at bats with 33 runs scored, five extra base hits (two doubles, two triples, one home run), and 45 total bases.