May 19, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Wright State baseball team collected six individual honor from the Horizon League on Monday afternoon, as the league office announced the 2008 Horizon League All-League and Specialty Awards. The Raiders placed a league-best five players on the All-League First Team and one player was selected to the All-League Second Team.

Headlining the list of honorees for WSU was junior first basemen Jeremy Hamilton who was named the Horizon League's Player of the Year. Hamilton ranked among the league leaders in eleven offensive categories, ranking first in slugging percentage (.738), on-base percentage (.516), runs scored (57), walks (36) and total bases (127).

Hamilton reached base safely in every Horizon League contest and collected a hit in 18 of the 22 league games. The junior batted over .500 against four of his six league opponents and drove in at least three RBI's in every league series. The Cincinnati native joins former teammate Ross Oeder as the first back-to-back player of the year combo from the same school since 2002-03 (Curtis Granderson and Chuck Peters, UIC).

Hamilton, Jon Durket, Jeff Mercer, Gerald Ogrinc and Justin Parker were all named First Team All-Horizon League on Monday. R.J. Gundolff was selected to the All-League Second Team as a utility player, while Mercer was also named to the All-Newcomer Team.

Hamilton joined teammate - and fellow junior - Parker as repeat First Team All-League selections. Parker was the First Team All-League honoree at shortstop as he ranked among the leagues beat in ten offensive categories. Parker boasted 21 runs scored and 21 RBI's in league play with an on-base percentage of .453 in 22 starts.

Mercer was named to the All-League First Team as the designated hitter as he ranked third in the league with 50 RBI's. Mercer also ranked among the league leaders in doubles (20), home runs (7), total bases (107) and batting average (.346). The Indiana native was a two-time league player of the week selection and posted 11 multi-hit games in league play. Mercer was also one of 13 members of the 2008 Horizon League All-Newcomer team.

Ogrinc led all catchers with 11 pickoffs and 21 base runners thrown out during the 2008 slate. The catching position is about defense and Ogrinc has been error freeing 150 chances in league play and ranks second in overall fielding percentage. He also posted .310 batting average with 27 RBI's and 26 runs scored.

Durket was the lone pitcher honored by the league, posting a 5-1 record against Horizon League opponents. In league play, Durket tossed 55.2 innings with a 2.26 ERA, striking out 38 and holding a .236 batting average against. Overall Durket owned a league-low 2.11 earned run average and ranked second in wins with six.

On the All-League Second Team, Gundolff had a fine season in his first year with the Green and Gold. The sophomore, played against five of the six Horizon League opponents due to an injury and carried a .300 average against all of them. He posted a .292 batting average with 38 runs scored and 17 walks.

The Green and Gold will open up the Horizon League Tournament presented by the U.S. Army on Thursday, May 22. Their opponent is yet to be determined and a complete bracket can be found by clicking here.

Player of the Year
Jeremy Hamilton, Wright State

Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Swenson, Youngstown State

Newcomer of the Year
Derrick Miramontes, UIC

Relief Pitcher of the Year
Adam Worthington, UIC

Co-Coach of the Year
Mike Dee, UIC
Rich Pasquale, Youngstown State

All-Horizon League First Team
C - Gerald Ogrinc, Wright State
1B - Jeremy Hamilton, Wright State
2B - Jesse Hart, Milwaukee
SS - Justin Parker, Wright State
3B - Alex Kerins, Cleveland State
OF - Brad Buell, Cleveland State
OF - Zach Rodeghero, Valparaiso
OF - Nick Wichser, Milwaukee
DH - Jeff Mercer, Wright State
UT - Andy Gerhartz, Milwaukee
P - Jon Durket, Wright State
P - Aaron Swenson, Youngstown State

All-Horizon League Second Team
C - Shaun Wegner, Milwaukee
1B - Shawn Wozniak, Milwaukee
2B - John Giusti, Valparaiso
SS - Joe Pauley, Butler
3B - Sean Lucas, Youngstown State
OF - Kyle Bischof, Cleveland State
OF - Joe Iacobucci, Youngstown State
OF - Steve McGuiggan, UIC
OF - Colin Ziegel, Butler
DH - Ben Long, Milwaukee
UT - R.J. Gundolff, Wright State
UT - Eric Marzec, Youngstown State
P - Derrick Miramontes, UIC
P - Adam Worthington, UIC

Horizon League All-Newcomer Team
Kyle Bischof, Cleveland State
Brad Buell, Cleveland State
Adam Heideman, Cleveland State
Alex Kerins, Cleveland State
Rafael Garcia, UIC
Steve McGuiggan, UIC
Derrick Miramontes, UIC
Doug Dekoning, Milwaukee
Andy Gerhartz, Milwaukee
Brad Lusti, Milwaukee
Steve Godawa, Valparaiso
Jeff Mercer, Wright State
Joe Iacobucci, Youngstown State

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