FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, June 13, 2006

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/474-7264, ext. 119 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

 Association of Division III Independents
Names 2006 All-Independent Baseball Teams

 

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- Ray Stokes of California State University, East Bay, and Devin Drag of Chapman University, hauled in top honors on the 2006 All-Independent Baseball teams named today by the Association of Division III Independents.

Stokes, a junior from San Lenadro, CA, who recently was drafted in the 16th round by the San Diego Padres, was named the player of the year after he hit .400 with four home runs and 29 runs batted in. Stokes was named NCAA Division III All-West Region first team. He scored 55 runs – the second-highest total in Division III this year. In addition, Stokes set school records for steals in a season (29) and career steals (59).

Drag was named pitcher of the year after he went 10-2 with a 0.82 earned-run average and eight saves. He was named to the ABCA All-American first team and the NCAA Division III All-West Region first team. Drag led all Division III pitchers in ERA and ranked in the top 10 in wins and saves. He led the team in complete games (six in seven starts), shutouts (two) and opponents’ batting average (.150).

Chapman, which finished the season with a 33-13 record and advanced to the Division III Baseball Championship finals for the sixth time in the past nine years, placed a total of five players on the first team.

Chapman head coach Tom Tereschuk, who led the Panthers to a third-place national finish, was named the co-coach of the year. Tereschuk shared the honor with Dirk Morrison, whose Cal State East Bay squad finished with a 25-12 record and participated in the NCAA baseball championship for the third time since 2001.

Chapman’s Patrick Ohail, a freshman first baseman from Yorba Linda, CA, who hit .335 with two home runs, 19 doubles and 31 RBI, and was named to the All-Tournament team at the Division III championship finals, was named the association’s rookie of the year.

The players were selected by baseball coaches at member institutions of the Association of Division III Independents.

First Team
Pitcher – Devin Drag, Junior, Chapman University (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
Pitcher – Sean O’Dowd, Junior, Cal State East Bay (Temecula, CA)
Pitcher – Buddy Klovstad, Senior, Chapman University (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
Catcher – Ralph Luna, Senior, Cal State East Bay (Pittsburg, CA)
First base – Patrick Ohail, Freshman, Chapman University (Yorba Linda, CA)
Second base – Ray Stokes, Junior, Cal State East Bay (San Leandro, CA)
Third base – Tyler Dean, Junior, Chapman University (North Plains, OR)
Shortstop – Derek Kinzler, Senior, Menlo College (Northridge, CA)
Outfield – Brian Brubaker, Senior, Chapman University (Denver, CO)
Outfield – Ed Quinn, Sophomore, Mitchell College (Montville, CT)
Outfield – Mike Taylor, Senior, Menlo College (American Canyon, CA)
Utility – Sal Messina, Junior, Mitchell College (Prospect, CT)
Designated hitter – Lamonte Toney, Sophomore, Cal State East Bay (San Leandro, CA)

Second Team
Pitcher – Matt Sample, Senior, Lincoln University (West Grove, PA)
Pitcher – Matt Vieira, Sophomore, Cal State East Bay (Livermore, CA)
Pitcher – Craig Eagle, Junior, Cal State East Bay (San Diego, CA)
Catcher – Darryl Sage, Junior, Finlandia University (Warren, MI)
First base – (tie) Josh Replogle, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Beatrice, NE), and
Brandon Woolard, Junior, Menlo College (Parker, CO)
Second base – Dan Lanoue, Junior, Mitchell College (Cranston, RI)
Third base – Shawn Guiney, Sophomore, Mitchell College (New London, CT)
Shortstop – Bill Luna, Senior, Mitchell College (Mystic, CT)
Outfield – Alex Hamlin, Sophomore, Mitchell College (Intervale, NH)
Outfield –Aaron Early, Senior, Cal State East Bay (Oakland, CA)
Outfield – Adam Johnson, Senior, Mitchell College (Waterford, CT)
Utility – Shawn Wickersheim, Sophomore, Finlandia University (White Lake, WI)
Designated hitter – Bryan Westerberg, Freshman, Finlandia University (Escanaba, MI)

Honorable Mention
Pitcher – Billy Sulentor, Senior, Chapman University (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
Pitcher – Tom Hranac, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)
Pitcher – Josh Graber, Sophomore, Lincoln University (Baltimore, MD)
Catcher – John Alexander, Senior, Chapman University (Longview, WA)
Third base – Pete Fisher, Sophomore, Lincoln University (Stamford, CT)
Shortstop – (tie) Joe Kruemmer, Freshman, Lincoln University (Bear, DE), and
Chris Wallinger, Senior, Cal State East Bay (Milpitas, CA)
Outfield – Jefferson Bradshaw, Senior, Menlo College (Palo Alto, CA)
Outfield – Brandon Sapenter, Senior, Cal State East Bay (Hayward, CA)
Outfield – Steven Fraser, Sophomore, Chapman University (Long Beach, CA)
Utility – Troy Kantor, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)
Designated hitter – Vincent Curtis, Junior, Lincoln University (Philadelphia, PA)

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 19 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in seven sports in 2005-06. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. For the first time, the Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it has announced all-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.