May 19, 2008

Contact: Greg Murphy

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Four Cleveland State baseball players, all in their first season with the program, were named to the 2008 All-Horizon League Team. The league office made the official announcement on Monday (May 19) afternoon.

Senior third baseman Alex Kerins and junior centerfielder Brad Buell both earned a spot on the all-league first team, marking the first time since 2002 that the Vikings had a player named to the first team.

In addition, senior leftfielder Kyle Bischof garnered a spot on the all-league second team, while Kerins, Bischof, Buell and freshman rightfielder Adam Heideman were all named to the all-league newcomer team. The four representatives are the most players from one school on the all-newcomer team.

"All four of these players are very deserving of these awards and I am proud of each one of them for their accomplishments this season," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "They have all had outstanding seasons and have been the driving force the success we have enjoyed this year."

Kerins, a transfer from Spalding University, earned a spot on the first team after batting .335, ranking first in the league in RBI (51), second in homeruns (11), fourth in slugging percentage (.584) and total bases (115), sixth in runs scored (47) and eighth in hits (66). He became just the fourth player in school history to record 50 runs batted in for a season.

Buell, who transferred to CSU this season from Kalamazoo Valley CC, is the first outfielder in program history to garner a spot on the all-league first team. He served as the catalyst of the CSU offense as the leadoff hitter, leading the team with a .339 average, 65 hits and 16 doubles. He added two homeruns and 25 RBI, while stealing 22 bases, two shy of the school-record.

Bischof, who like Kerins transferred to CSU from Spalding for his final season, started all 50 games and hit .305, ranking second on the team with eight homeruns and 44 RBI and third with 11 doubles and 31 runs and 44 hits.

Heideman started 39 games in rightfield, batting .321 with 25 runs, seven doubles, three homers and 16 RBI.

The Vikings enter the 2008 Horizon League Championship as the fourth seed and will face fifth-seeded Milwaukee in an opening round game on Wednesday (May 21) beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio.

2008 HORIZON LEAGUE BASEBALL AWARDS

All-League First Team
C Gerald Ogrinc, Wright State
1B Jeremy Hamilton, Wright State
2B Jesse Hart, Milwaukee
SS Justin Parker, Wright State
3B Alex Kerins, Cleveland State
OF Brad Buell, Cleveland State
OF Zach Rodeghero, Valparaiso
OF Nick Wichser, Milwaukee
DH Jeff Mercer, Wright State
UT Andy Gerhartz, Milwaukee
P Jon Durket, Wright State
P Aaron Swenson, Youngstown State

All-League Second Team
C Shaun Wegner, Milwaukee
1B Shawn Wozniak, Milwaukee
2B John Giusti, Valparaiso
SS Joe Pauley, Butler
3B Sean Lucas, Youngstown State
OF Kyle Bischof, Cleveland State
OF Joe Iacobucci, Youngstown State
OF Steve McGuiggan, UIC
OF Colin Ziegel, Butler
DH Ben Long, Milwaukee
UT R.J. Gundolff, Wright State
UT Eric Marzec, Youngstown State
P Derrick Miramontes, UIC
P Adam Worthington, UIC

Player of the Year
Jeremy Hamilton, Wright State

Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Swenson, Youngstown State

Newcomer of the Year
Derrick Miramontes, UIC

Relief Pitcher of the Year
Adam Worthington, UIC

Co-Coach of the Year
Mike Dee, UIC
Rich Pasquale, Youngstown State

All-Newcomer Team
Position Players
Brad Buell, Cleveland State
Kyle Bischof, Cleveland State
Doug Dekoning, Milwaukee
Rafael Garcia, UIC
Adam Heideman, Cleveland State
Joe Iacobucci, Youngstown State
Alex Kerins, Cleveland State
Steve McGuiggan, UIC
UT Andy Gerhartz, Milwaukee
DH Jeff Mercer, Wright State
Pitchers
Steve Godawa, Valparaiso
Brad Lusti, Milwaukee
Derrick Miramontes, UIC