FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, May 29, 2007

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

 Association of Division III Independents
Names 2007 All-Independent Baseball Teams

 

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- The Chapman University duo of Devin Drag and Kurt Yacko, who led the Panthers to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division III World Series, earned top honors on the 2007 All-Independent Baseball teams named today by the Association of Division III Independents. 

Yacko, a sophomore from Costa Mesa, CA, was named the player of the year after he hit .400 with six home runs and 45 runs batted in.  Yacko recently was named the Division III player of the year by the American Baseball Coaches Association, and he was voted to the first team All-West Region as a utility player.  He ranked among the top-10 nationally in saves (nine) and strikeouts (93), and he led his team in hits (78), triples (four) and slugging percentage (.615). 

For the second consecutive year, Drag, a senior from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, was named pitcher of the year after he went 15-0 with a 2.24 earned-run average and two saves.  He was named to the ABCA All-American first team, and he was named the NCAA Division III All-West Region pitcher of the year.  Drag led all Division III pitchers in victories and set the Chapman single-season record for victories.  Drag set Chapman’s career records with 29 wins, a 1.70 earned-run average and 11 complete games. 

Chapman, which finished the season with a 41-8 record and set the single-season school mark for victories, placed six players on the first team.  In addition, Chapman head coach Tom Tereschuk was named the coach of the year for the second straight year.    

Andy McGowan, a shortstop from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Michael Thomasson, an outfielder from California State University, East Bay, were named co-rookies of the year.  McGowan hit .388 and led his team in hits (47), doubles (12), triples (two), home runs (three), runs batted in (30) and slugging percentage (.595).  Thomasson hit .335 and led the Pioneers with 13 home runs, 43 runs batted in, a .658 slugging percentage and 14 stolen bases.

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

First Team 

Pitcher – Devin Drag, Senior, Chapman University (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)

Pitcher – Wayde Kitchens, Sophomore, Chapman University (Oceanside, CA)

Pitcher – Sean O’Dowd, Senior, California State University, East Bay (Temecula, CA)

First base – Lamonte Toney, Junior, California State University, East Bay (San Leandro, CA)

Second base – Kyle Redding, Junior, Chapman University (Moorpark, CA)

Third base – (tie)  Jacob Haberman, Junior, California State University, East Bay (Santa Clara, CA);

                          Rob McDonald, Junior, Menlo College (Foster City, CA)

Shortstop – Ryan Cavan, Sophomore, Chapman University (Belmont, CA)

Designated hitter – Chase Violette, Senior, University of Dallas (Euless, TX)

Catcher – Fraser Holmes, Senior, University of Dallas (Grand Prairie, TX)

Outfield – Tyler Dean, Senior, Chapman University (North Plains, OR)

Outfield – Michael Thomasson, Junior, California State University, East Bay (San Leandro, CA)

Outfield –Jesus Muela, Junior, California State University, East Bay (Pittsburg, CA)

Utility – Kurt Yacko, Sophomore, Chapman University (Costa Mesa, CA)

Second Team

Pitcher – Craig Eagle, Senior, California State University, East Bay (San Diego, CA)

Pitcher – Mike Ryder, Junior, Menlo College (San Mateo, CA)

Pitcher – Zane Cascini, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Pitcher – Kyle Dunn, Junior, California State University, East Bay (Brentwood, CA)

First base – Matt O’Neill, Junior, University of Dallas (Sydney, AUS)

Second base – Will McLoughlin, Junior, Menlo College (San Bruno, CA)

Third base – Cory Hilgenkamp, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Shortstop – Tom Fogerty, Sophomore, University of Dallas (Parker, CO)

Catcher – Shawn Votava, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Designated hitter – (tie)  Stuart Hyman, Junior, Chapman University (Diamond Bar, CA);

                                    John Rust, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Outfield – Chris Budelli, Junior, Menlo College (Menlo Park, CA)

Outfield – Jared Meays, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Columbus, NE)

Utility – Scott Bowman, Senior, Menlo College (San Bruno, CA)

Honorable Mention

Pitcher – Scott Crisp, Junior, University of Dallas (Farmers Branch, TX)

Pitcher – Jon Seamen, Senior, University of Dallas (Mansfield, TX)

First base – Anthony Dickerson, Senior, Menlo College (Susanville, CA)

First base – Corey Petersen, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Omaha, NE)

Second base – James Siedlecki, Senior, Newbury College (North Grafton, MA)

Shortstop – (tie)  Andy McGowan, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE);

                         Evan Hudson, Junior, Newbury College (Sunapee, NH)

Catcher – Marc Tuttle, Junior, California State University, East Bay (Campbell, CA)

Designated hitter – Kyle Dunn, Junior, California State University, East Bay (Brentwood, CA)

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 25 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 2006-07.  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.

 

 

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