STERLING, Va. – Three seniors and one junior highlight the 2008 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American team released today. Seniors Ricky Angel, Illinois Wesleyan, Marc Blakeley, Augustana and Brad Ketterer, Thomas More join junior Kurt Yacko, Chapman as unanimous nods to the D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Team.
Two teammates are honored on the first team. Pitchers Wayde Kitchens, Chapman and Matt Aronson, Illinois Wesleyan join Yacko and Angel with preseason honors. Rounding out the pitching staff is Adam Samson from preseason favorite Wooster. The first team pitching staff went a combined 37-3 with a 1.72 ERA in 2007.
Blakeley, Blake Eller, St. Scholastica and Hunter Owen, Millsaps compose the first team outfield. All three feature speed on the bases with each having swiped 20 or more stolen bases in 2007. Eller lead the nation in runs scored per game, Blakeley led the nation in hits and Owen was the RBI leader in 2007.
The infield consists of Drew Hedman, Pomona-Pitzer, Angel, Derek David, McMurry, and Adam Frost, St. Norbert. With 14 home runs in 2007, Hedman was one off the national lead in home runs and fourth in home runs per game. Angel was ranked in six national categories. David was ninth in doubled per game. Frost had the third highest batting average in D-III baseball in 2007.
Designated hitter Brad Ketterer, Thomas More and gold glove catcher Mike Zaccardo, Cortland State rounds out the first team D3baseball.com Preseason All-American team.
2008 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Team
C Mike Zaccardo, Cortland State; Matthew Pexa, St. Thomas
1B Drew Hedman, Pomona-Pitzer; Brent Voorhees, McMurry
2B Ricky Angel, Illinois Wesleyan; Joe Roth, Emory
3B Derek David, McMurry; Richard Gomez, CCNY
SS Adam Frost, St. Norbert; Jonas Fester, Johns Hopkins
OF Marc Blakeley, Augustana; Bryan Burke, Kean
OF Blake Eller, St. Scholastica; Joey McDaniel, Ohio Wesleyan
OF Hunter Owen, Millsaps; Alex Weber-Shapiro, CMS
DH Brad Ketterer, Thomas More; Nate Nelson, Worcester State
UTL Kurt Yacko, Chapman; Shawn Gilblair, Eastern Conn
P Matt Aronson, Illinois Wesleyan; Robert Flanagan, Rhodes
P Wayde Kitchens, Chapman; Aaron Saeubling, Wartburg
P Adam Samson, Wooster; Ahmed Shelton, Averett
P Anthony Trapuzzan, Wooster
Honorable Mention: C: Brandon Sales, Pacific Lutheran; 1B: Daniel Vanaman, Rhodes; 2B: Matt Stanziano, Pitt-Greensburg; 3B: Jack Walker, Concordia-Chicago; SS: Luke Enman, St. Joseph's (Me.); OF: Mitch Kuczek, Transylvania; OF: Michael Sims, LaGrange; P: Dan Remenowsky, Otterbein
