June 17, 2009

Mideast Region First and Second Teams

 

ATHENS, Ohio - The American Baseball Coaches Association and Ohio head coach Joe Carbone, chairman of the NCAA Mideast Region All-American Committee, have announced the 2009 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Mideast Region First and Second Teams. Xavier's sophomore Ben Thomas has been named to the Mideast Region as a first baseman.

The Big Ten was represented by 10 players across the All-Mideast Region First and Second Teams while the Mid-American Conference had nine selections. There were four representatives from the Big East, three from the Ohio Valley Conference and one from the Atlantic 10. The Big 10 had seven First Team selections, including all five pitching spots.

Eastern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State all had the most selections with three each. Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Ohio State had two First-Team selections apiece.

Seven of the players named to All-Mideast Region First Team were also selected to the 2009 ABCA/Rawlings All-American Teams. Indiana pitcher Eric Arnett, Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum and Ohio third baseman Marc Krauss were all named to the First Team. Ball State outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker was named to the Second Team, while Indiana catcher Josh Phegley and Ohio State pitchers Alex Wimmers and Jake Hale were selected to the Third Team.

The All-Mideast Region Teams are voted on by all the region's head coaches and Carbone, as the chairman, tallies the votes and creates the two teams.

"Speaking on behalf of the selection committee, I feel that this year's Mideast Region players are very deserving of this recognition," Carbone said.  "They head a long list of impressive players and represent a lot of very good teams from around the region."

The Mideast Region's recipient of an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove was Notre Dame outfielder A.J. Pollack, who did not commit an error in 159 chances this season. He also recorded four assists.

The All-American teams are selected by a committee made up of each region's chairman. Monmouth head coach Dean Ehehalt represented the East Region while also chairing the committee and was joined by Oregon head coach George Horton (West), Middle Tennessee State head coach Steve Peterson (South Central), Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin (South), UMass head coach Mike Stone (Northeast), Northern Iowa head coach Rick Heller (Midwest), Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor (Atlantic) and Carbone (Mideast) in Omaha, Neb., last week before the start of the 2009 NCAA Men's College World Series.

2009 ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Teams

First Team
Pitcher – Eric Arnett/Indiana
Pitcher – Alex Wimmers/Ohio State
Pitcher – Chris Fetter/Michigan
Pitcher – Tom Buske/Minnesota
Reliever – Jake Hale/Ohio State   
Catcher – Josh Phegley/Indiana    
First Base – Tommy Nurre/Miami (OH)
Second Base – Derek McCallum/Minnesota
Third Base – Marc Krauss/Ohio
Shortstop – Jeremy Barnes/Notre Dame
Outfield – Jeremy Hazelbaker/Ball State
Outfield – Lance Durham/Cincinnati
Outfield – Gauntlett Eldemire/Ohio
Designated Hitter – Matt Skirving/Eastern Michigan

Second Team
Pitcher – Brennan Smith/Bowling Green
Pitcher – Mike Recchia/Eastern Illinois
Pitcher – Josh Mueller/Eastern Illinois
Reliever – Andrew Chafin/Kent State
Catcher – Dan Burkhart/Ohio State
First Base – Ben Thomas/Xavier
Second Base – Jordan Tokarz/Eastern Illinois
Third Base – Mike Spina/Cincinnati
Shortstop – Ryan Shay/Bowling Green
Outfield – Brandon Haveman/Purdue
Outfield – A.J. Pollack/Notre Dame
Outfield – Adam Eaton/Miami (OH)
Designated Hitter – Alex Dickerson/Indiana

2009 ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans (Selections from Mideast Region)

First Team
Pitcher – Eric Arnett/Indiana
Second Base – Derek McCallum/Minnesota  
Third Base – Marc Krauss/Ohio

Second Team
Outfield – Jeremy Hazelbaker/Ball State

Third Team
Pitcher – Alex Wimmers/Ohio State
Reliever – Jake Hale/Ohio State
Catcher – Josh Phegley/Indiana

2009 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winners (Selections from Mideast Region)
Outfield – A.J. Pollack/Notre Dame