May 9, 2008

The 2008 All-GLIAC Baseball team was announced at the GLIAC Tournament in Midland, MI.  Ashland University pitcher/first baseman Ben Minard (Delaware,Ohio/Olentangy)  was named the GLIAC Player of the Year and Wayne State University junior pitcher Anthony Bass (Trenton, Mich.) was tabbed GLIAC Pitcher of the Year.  Wayne State's Michael Wiseman (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland) and Jay Alexander were also named Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.

Minard is the first Ashland sophomore to win the award.  His is fourth in the country in batting average.  Minard is hitting .479 with 8 home runs and 52 RBI.  His slugging percentage is .732 and he has a .538 on-base percentage.  On the mound, Minard is 7-5.  He's tied for the team high in wins and complete games and has logged a team-high 79 innings.

Bass, who was also named to the All-GLIAC First Team for the second consecutive season, leads the GLIAC in ERA (2.43) and opposing batting average (.213) while ranking second in wins (8), third in strikeouts (72) and tied for sixth in innings pitched (59.1).  A two-time pitcher of the week this season, Bass is averaging 10.92 strikeouts per nine innings.

An Honorable Mention All-GLIAC selection, Wiseman leads Wayne State with 12 multiple-RBI games and is fourth in multiple-hit games (13).  He leads the Warriors with 41 RBI and 27 walks, which ranks eighth and seventh in the league, respectively.  Wiseman also earned his first career GLIAC Player of the Week award on April 21.

Alexander garnered his second Coach of the Year award after guiding the Warriors to their fourth GLIAC Tournament appearance in the last five years.  Wayne State posted a 23-5 conference record during the regular season and has a 30-15 overall mark entering Thursday.  The team is currently ranked fourth in the region and 29th nationally.

2008 Baseball All-Conference Teams and Postseason Awards

Player of the Year: Ben Minard - Ashland

Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Bass - Wayne State

Freshman of the Year: Michael Wiseman - Wayne State

Coach of the Year: Jay Alexander - Wayne State

All-GLIAC First Team

DH Casey Robrahn Grand Valley State Jr. R/R Jenison, Mich.

C Max Bell Saginaw Valley State Sr. L/R Goodrich, Mich.

1B Ben Minard Ashland So. R/R Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy

2B Brett Witczak Wayne State Sr. R/R Hudsonville, Mich.

SS Chris Haycox Ashland Sr. R/R Springfield, Ohio

3B Jacob Petkac Ashland So. R/R Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark

INF Brian Sampsel Findlay Jr. L/L Coshocton, Ohio/River View

OF Derek Hinke Grand Valley State Sr. R/R Cedar Rapids, Iowa

OF Mark Lipscomb Northwood Sr. R/R Quincy, Mich.

OF George Rohan Findlay Sr. R/L North Lima, Ohio/South Range

OF Reed Welker Saginaw Valley State Sr. R/L Toledo, Ohio/St. John's

SP Anthony Bass Wayne State Jr. R/R Trenton, Mich.

SP Andre Benjamin Grand Valley State Jr. L/L Grand Ledge, Mich.

SP Andrew Doyle Saginaw Valley State So. L/L Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic

SP Scott Roy Saginaw Valley State Sr. R/R Mt. Morris, Mich./E.A.Johnson

RP Jim Ludwig Mercyhurst Sr. L/L Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic

All-GLIAC Second Team

DH Brandon Fanion Saginaw Valley State Sr. R/R Marysville, Mich.

C Chase Beatty Ashland Sr. R/R Milan, Ohio/Edison

1B Adam Kaminski Wayne State Jr. R/R Clinton Twp., Mich./Mt. Clemens

2B Josh Hillyard Grand Valley State Jr. R/R Grand Rapids, Mich.

SS Dan Bertolini Mercyhurst Sr. R/R Poland, Ohio/Seminary

3B Jeff Peters Findlay Sr. R/R Lima, Ohio/Central Catholic

INF Ben Shock Northwood Sr. R/R St. John's, Mich.

OF Joe Luli Mercyhurst Sr. R/R Atwater, Ohio/Pikeville

OF Matt Nickels Grand Valley State Jr. L/L Novi, Mich.

OF David Quiroga Ashland Sr. R/R Toledo, Ohio

OF Jamie Walczak Mercyhurst Jr. R/R Painesville, Ohio/Riverside

SP Steve Grife Mercyhurst So. R/R Sheffield Lake, Ohio/Brookside

SP Dane Little Wayne State Jr. L/L Windsor, Ontario/F.J. Brennan Catholic

SP Caleb Meyer Findlay Sr. R/R Toronto, Ohio/Edison

SP Brad Raj Grand Valley State So. R/R Southgate, Mich./Anderson

RP Josh Barney Findlay Sr. R/R Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne

All-GLIAC Honorable Mention

OF Tyson Rowland Ashland Jr. L/L Warren, Ohio

P Matt Schultz Ashland Jr. R/R Amherst, Ohio/Firelands

OF Kyle Blessing Findlay Sr. R/R Springfield, Ohio

P Patrick Burkin Findlay Sr. R/R Clyde, Ohio

SS Jonathan Dziomba Gannon Jr. L/R Williamsville, N.Y./St. Joseph's

P/3B Greg Radwan Gannon So. R/R Farnham, N.Y./St. Francis

1B Cory Maguire Grand Valley State So. L/L Davison, Mich.

OF Pat Radde Grand Valley State Sr. L/L Grand Rapids, Mich./F. Hills Central

P Scott Monterastelli Hillsdale Jr. R/R Ottawa, Ill.

OF Jesse Smith Hillsdale Jr. R/R Aurora, Ill.

P John Morris Mercyhurst Sr. R/R New Castle, Pa./Mohawk

P Wes Craig Mercyhurst Sr. R/R Ligonier, Pa./Mercyhurst North East

OF Matt Czajkowski Northwood So. R/R Plymouth, Mich./Divine Child

1B Matt Shields Northwood Sr. R/R Midland, Mich./Midland

OF Josh Peterson Saginaw Valley State So. R/R Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek

OF Charlie Thomas Saginaw Valley State So. R/R Northville, Mich.

OF Ryan LaPensee Wayne State So. R/R LaSalle, Ont./St. Thomas of Villanova

C Michael Wiseman Wayne State Fr. L/R White Lake, Mich./Lakeland