Sunday, January 13, 2008

                                           

FOUR PIONEERS NAMED COLLEGIATE BASEBALL PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA

 

                TUSCON, Ariz. --- Four Tusculum College baseball players have been named to the 2008 Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II South Region Preseason All-America team announced College officials.  Seniors Mat Galens, Maikol Gonzalez, Carlos Rivera and Christian Rosa garnered preseason honors.  Tusculum’s four honorees were the most in the region.  Junior shortstop Aaron Hudgins was named to the “Players to Watch” List, while right-handed pitcher Max Keleher was mentioned in the “Newcomers to Watch” category.

 

                Galens, a 6-1, 185-pound right-hander from Louisville, Ky., established a school single-season record with 25 relief appearances.  The 2007 All-Region pick posted a 4-1 record and a team-best 1.06 earned run average.  The 2004 South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year recorded five saves and combined on a shutout in his 42.1 innings.  He struck out 50, while walking only 14 as he limited the opposition to a .213 batting average.

 

                Gonzalez, a 6-0, 185-pound second baseman from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was the 2007 South Region and SAC Player of Year in his first season in Greeneville.  The 2007 All-American led the team with a .444 batting average (7th in NCAA II), while posting a school and league record 14 triples, which were tops in the nation.  He also tallied 10 doubles, two home runs and a team-best 65 runs batted in (38th in NCAA II).

 

                Rivera, a 5-10, 160-pound outfielder from Leesburg, Va., established a new TC and SAC record with his 101 hits.  Rivera posted a .398 batting average with 17 doubles, eight triples and 59 RBI, along with 23 stolen bases.  He also garnered All-Conference, All-Region and All-America accolades for the Pioneers.  Both Gonzalez and Rivera were selected to the 2007 NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team.

 

                Rosa, a 5-9, 190-pound catcher from Puerto Rico, was also an All-America selection for Tusculum.  Rosa led the team with nine runs and finished second with 63 RBI.  The All-SAC and All-Region honoree established a new TC record with 29 stolen bases, along with his .339 average.  He ended the year 29th in the country in walks per game (0.72) and 43rd in stolen bases per contest (0.45).

 

                Hudgins, a 5-11, 180-pound native of Kingsport, Tenn., finished third on the team batting .361 in his 61 games.  Hudgins tallied nine doubles, a triple, 29 RBI and 10 stolen bases.  He enters this junior campaign with a .368 career batting average, which is currently ninth all-time at Tusculum.

 

                Keleher, a 6-2, 195-pound right-handed pitcher from Port Charlotte, Fla., is playing his first season at TC since transferring from Lake Sumter Community College, where he earned All-Conference honors last year.  While at the Leesburg, Fla. school, he also earned Academic All-Conference recognition.  During his prep career at Port Charlotte High School, Keleher was a two-time All-County selection and an All-Conference pick.

 

                Tusculum returns 20 lettermen and eight starters from last year’s South Atlantic Conference squad that posted a 50-14 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.  The Pioneers, ranked No. 7 in the nation (NCAA II), will open the season Feb. 2 when they travel to sixth-ranked Mount Olive for a three-game series.

 

- TC -

               

 

Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II South Region Preseason All-Americans

OF – David Thomas, Catawba

OF – Jerry Sands, Catawba

OF – Carlos Rivera, Tusculum

OF – Brian Schulz, Florida Southern

OF – Matt Mindick, Nova Southeastern

OF – Junior Mejia, Tampa

1B – Bryan Cook, Nova Southeastern

2B – Maikol Gonzalez, Tusculum

3B – Arden McWilliams, Florida Southern

DH – Josh Benton, Wingate

DH – Tristan Rainone, Florida Southern

C – Christian Rosa, Tusculum

P – Ryan Clark, Saint Leo

P – Kevin Ferguson, Tampa

RP – Mat Galens, Tusculum

 

Players to Watch:

OF – Brayan Valencia, Nova Southeastern

OF – Evan Taylor, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – TeWayne Willis, Lincoln Memorial

OF – Andrew Frezza, Barry

1B – Jose Jimenez, Tampa

1B/OF – Kenny Ray, Flagler

1B/P – Zach Grau, Palm Beach Atlantic

1B/P – Kerry White, LeMoyne-Owen

2B – Langdon Potts, Carson-Newman

SS – Aaron Hudgins, Tusculum

SS – Matt Heller, Eckerd

SS – Robbie Shields, Florida Southern

3B – Gene Howard, Rollins

C – Ryan Query, Catawba

P – Carter Clements, Saint Leo

P – Brandon Petty, Newberry

P – Mike Piazza, Florida Tech

 

Newcomers to Watch

OF – Joey Kampfer, Flagler

OF – Joel Keefe, Barry

OF – Jarrett Mackin, Eckerd

OF/C – Darrius Washington, LeMoyne-Owen

1B/OF – Brandin Daniel, Saint Leo

2B – Harry Honeycutt, Rollins

3B – Daniel Ford, Lenoir-Rhyne

SS – Jesus Barosso, Tampa

SS – Chris Ahearn, Catawba

SS – Casio Grider, Newberry

C – Jason Pabon, Lincoln Memorial

P – Max Keleher, Tusculum

P – Ryan Whelan, Nova Southeastern

P/1B – Zach Howell, Carson-Newman

P – Matt Schurig, Florida Tech

P – Isaac Hicks, Palm Beach Atlantic

P – Max Russell, Florida Southern