Wednesday, May 28, 2008

GONZALEZ, MORROW NAMED TO NCBWA ALL-AMERICA TEAM

ELLENBURG, Wash. --- Tusculum College’s Maikol Gonzalez and Boo Morrow have been named to the 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Division II All-America Team announced officials Wednesday. Gonzalez was named as the First Team second baseman, while Morrow garnered honorable mention accolades as a starting pitcher.

Gonzalez, a senior from Maraca Ibo, Venezuela, earns his third All-American honor this season and returns to the NCBWA First Team for a second consecutive year.

Morrow, a junior right-hander from Lexington, Ky., becomes the 12^th Pioneer in school history to earn All-America recognition. The 11^th player was his older brother Dustin, who was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Baseball 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. 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. In 2008 alone, he has earned All-America standing by the NCBWA, the American Baseball Coaches Association and the D-II College Sports Information Directors of America (Daktronics).

Morrow emerged as the ace to the Tusculum rotation in 2008.  The Daktronics, ABCA and NCBWA 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.

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