Tuesday, May 27, 2008

MAIKOL GONZALEZ NAMED ABCA BASEBALL ALL-AMERICA

BOCA RATON, Fla. --- Tusculum College second baseman Maikol Gonzalez has been named to the 2008 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Division II All-America Second Team announced officials Tuesday.

Gonzalez, a senior from Maraca Ibo, Venezuela, earns All-America distinction for a second straight year. He earned All-America honors in 2007 by Daktronics (sports information directors) and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

He becomes only the second Tusculum baseball player in school history to earn All-America accolades in multiple seasons. Chad Busch was the first, garnering All-America distinction in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

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. For his efforts, he was named the Daktronics South Region Player of the Year for a second straight season.

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). His batting average is currently ninth all-time in NCAA II history, while his triples tally is tied for 12^th in the record book.

Earlier this month, he was named to the All-South Region teams by Daktronics, ABCA and NCBWA.

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 -

2008 ABCA/Rawlings Division II Baseball All-America Team First Team
Pos.	Name, School
1B	Chad Jacobsen, USC Aiken
2B	Chas Anthony, Erskine
3B	Rodney Rutherford, Columbus State
SS	Randall Clay, SE Oklahoma State
INF	Rob Flanigan, North Georgia
OF	David Thomas, Catawba
OF	Gabe MacDougal, Lynn
OF	Mike Elkerson, Abilene Christian
C	Keith Hernandez, Emporia State
DH	Tyler Carroll, Central Oklahoma
SP	Nick Schumacher, Wayne State (Neb.)
SP	Korey Noles, Columbus State
SP	Matt Means, Sonoma State
SP	Anthony Bass, Wayne State (Mich.)
RP	Anthony Perez, Tampa
Second Team
1B	Bryan Cook, Nova Southeastern
2B	Maikol Gonzalez, Tusculum
3B	Greyson Schram, Concord
SS	Jason Morales, UNC Pembroke
INF	Scott Savastano, Franklin Pierce
OF	Jerry Sands, Catawba
OF	John Long, Southern Arkansas
OF	Eric Shortell, Emporia State
OF	Jake Palmer, Metro State
C	Konrad Thieme, Sonoma State
DH	Matt Miller, Mesa State
SP	Steve Smith, Ouachita Baptist
SP	Jim Fuller, Southern Connecticut State
SP	Brett Hontz, Carson-Newman
SP	Marquis Fleming, CSU Stanislaus
RP	Chris Matlock, Central Missouri State
Third Team
1B	Ian Bridges, Sonoma State
1B	Ben Minard, Ashland
2B	Clay Sartain, Delta State
3B	Rob Dahlberg, West Alabama
SS	Mike Provenchar, Mesa State
INF	Adam Kampsen, Northern State
INF	Dirk Webb, Shepherd
OF	Karl Derbacher, Southern Connecticut State
OF	Chris Pacheco, Incarnate Word
OF	Shannon Wilkerson, Augusta State
OF	Reed Welker, Saginaw Valley State
C	Rickey Noland, Delta State
C	Jason Sherrer, Mount Olive
DH	Adam McSwain, Limestone
SP	Brandon Dill, West Alabama
SP	Matt Wright, Shippensburg
SP	Casey Hodges, Mount Olive
SP	Mike Adams, Franklin Pierce
RP	Keith Noe, UC San Diego
ABCA Position Player of the Year: Keith Hernandez, Emporia St. ABCA Player of the Year: Keith Hernandez, Emporia State ABCA Pitcher of the Year: Korey Noles, Columbus State