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Thu, May 3, 2007
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Baseball
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Grand Rapids, Mich. -- As the top three teams in the league this year start the conference tournament later today, the top players in the league were recognized for their effort on and off the field as the 2007 All-WHAC baseball teams were released today. Indiana Tech swept the top honors taking home player, pitcher and coach of the year honors.
Indiana Tech outfielder Seth Kuhl was named WHAC Player of the Year for 2007 after leading his team and the league in hitting during the regular season with a .398 average. The senior from Omaha, Nebraska garnered one of the four first-team outfield spots and was one of six Warriors placed on the first team by league coaches. Teammate Josh Judy was named WHAC Pitcher of the Year for 2007 after posting a 7-0 record and 1.68 ERA with a league-leading 63 strikeouts.
Tech skipper Randy Stegall was named WHAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Warriors to the conference regular season title with a 36-14-1 overall mark and 16-6 WHAC finish.
Also earning first team honors from Indiana Tech were outfielder Mark Heineman; catcher Eric Ogden; starting pitcher Marcus White and relief pitcher Garrett Wiejak.
Madonna was next in line with six first-team selections. The Crusaders saw second baseman Ryan Morrow, the leagues second leading hitter, earn the nod along with teammates Gary VanAllen (3B); Tony Luttman (OF); Kyle Fedorka (DH) and pitchers Mike Orehek and Will Kennedy.
Orehek went a perfect 5-0 on the mound in his senior campaign while Kennedy posted the top ERA in the league at 1.30.
Three Aquinas Saints were voted to the team as first baseman Lee Moser joined outfielder Brent Serba and shortstop Matt Soergel.
Concordia and Siena Heights each had one player selected. The Cardinals were represented by utility infielder Jason Christopolous while the Saints were represented by catcher Chris Hudson.
In addition to the all-conference first team, 17 players earned honorable mention all-conference honors while 23 were tabbed academic all-conference selections, going to juniors and seniors with a 3.25 cumulative grade point average or above.
Also recognized were five players who best exemplified the NAIA Champions of Character initiative during the 2007 season. The five players nominated by their head coach are; Dave Dinallo (Aquinas); Caleb Case (Concordia); Shawn Placie (Indiana Tech); Mike Hand (Madonna) and Steve Campbell (Siena Heights).
In addition to earning coach of the year honors, Indiana Tech's Randy Stegall was also named the 2007 WHAC Coach of Character.
The 2007 WHAC baseball championship tournament begins today in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Top-seeded Indiana Tech, #2 seed Madonna University and #3 seed Aquinas College will battle to see who comes away with the 2007 tournament title and top-seed in next week's NAIA Region VIII tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Madonna and Aquinas kick off the tournament at 1:00 pm (ET).
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