Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications


NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State outfielder Justin Hayes was presented Monday with the Joseph Echols Award by the Norfolk Sports Club as the top senior athlete at NSU for the 2018-19 academic year.

Hayes again served as the catalyst to the Spartans' offense in 2019. A First Team All-MEAC selection for the second straight year, Hayes batted .301 with 40 runs scored, seven doubles, four triples, one home run and 22 runs batted in. His 30 stolen bases led the MEAC for the second consecutive year.

He also ranked tied for fourth in the MEAC in triples and was fifth in runs scored.

Hayes, who also served as Norfolk State's team captain in 2019, was a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award for Division I baseball in the spring for his performance on the field, in the classroom and in the community. He led the Spartans to their fourth MEAC Northern Division title in five years and a runner-up finish at the MEAC Championship.

Hayes earned his Bachelor's degree in business management and was a MEAC All-Academic Team member last year.