Thursday, May 22, 2008

THREE PIONEERS NAMED TO NCBWA ALL-REGION BASEBALL TEAM

Boo Morrow	Maikol Gonzalez	Christian Rosa

WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Tusculum College placed three players on the 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Division II All-South Region First Team announced officials. Boo Morrow, Christian Rosa and Maikol Gonzalez. This marks the second straight year Rosa and Gonzalez have earned NCBWA All-Region accolades, while Morrow is receiving his initial honor.

Gonzalez, a senior second baseman from Maraca Ibo, Venezuela, was named to the Daktronics All-Region First Team last week, while also being tabbed the South Region Player of the Year by that organization for a second time. He was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team earlier this week. Gonzalez established a new school record by hitting .468 this year, surpassing the previous best by Julio Velazquez in the 1994 campaign (.467). Gonzalez also broke the TC and South Atlantic Conference single-season record with his 103 hits this year. The two-time All-SAC First Team honoree accounted for 21 doubles, seven triples, five home runs and a team-best 58 RBI. His 30 stolen bases in 2008 were also a new school record. During his two-year career, Gonzalez established new TC record for batting average (.457), triples (21) and on-base percentage (.522).

Rosa, a senior catcher from Toa Boa, Puerto Rico, who is also a two-time ABCA All-Region First Team pick, finished third on the team hitting .390 with 15 doubles, seven triples and a team-best 12 home runs, including a solo shot in his final collegiate at-bat. Rosa’s dozen homers are tied for the fourth most in school history. His 21 career round-trippers are tied for fifth all-time in the TC record book. He was named to the Daktronics All-Region First Team last week and was a 2007 NCBWA All-America pick.

Boo Morrow, a junior right-handed pitcher from Lexington, Ky., emerged as the ace to the Tusculum rotation in 2008. The Daktronics and ABCA All-Region First Team selection, posted a 7-0 record with a 2.00 earned run average. Morrow recorded 61 strikeouts and 20 walks in his 76.2 innings. The All-SAC First Team honoree has yet to suffer a loss in his career (11-0) and was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team.

The Pioneers posted a 41-15 record in 2008 and are currently ranked 30^th in the nation. Tusculum advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year and the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Pioneers earned their way into the national postseason by winning the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

- TC -

NCBWA All-South Region Baseball Team

First Team

SP - Ruddy Garcia, Nova Southeastern

SP - Bobby Hernandez, Barry

SP - Brett Hontz, Carson-Newman

SP - Mario Lombardo, Rollins

SP - Boo Morrow, Tusculum

RP - Anthony Perez, Tampa

C - Christian Rosa, Tusculum

1B - Bryan Cook, Nova Southeastern

2B - Maikol Gonzalez, Tusculum

3B - Gene Howard, Rollins

SS - Chuncey Ward, Albany State

OF - J.D. Martinez, Nova Southeastern

OF - Jerry Sands, Catawba

OF - David Thomas, Catawba

UT/DH - Nathan Coggins, Albany State

Second Team

SP - Josh Bowman, Tampa

SP - Blake Ketner, Catawba

SP - Samuel Murphy, Albany State

SP - Matt Schurig, Florida Tech

RP - Tim Holmes, Catawba

C - Braulio Pardo, Saint Leo

1B - Joe Arminio, Lynn

2B - Jonathan Duncan, Saint Leo

3B - Dan Ford, Lenoir-Rhyne

SS - Nick Shaw, Barry

OF - Nick Achberger, Carson-Newman

OF - T.J. Alonzo, Saint Leo

OF - Gabe MacDougall, Lynn

UT/DH - Cory Clark, Nova Southeastern

NCBWA South Region Pitcher of the Year: Brett Hontz, Carson-Newman

NCBWA South Region Player of the Year: David Thomas, Catawba

NCBWA South Region Coach of the Year: Joe Urso, Tampa