Nine SLIAC Baseball Players Named to 2010 Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region Team
ST. LOUIS - Nine St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) baseball players have been named to the 2010 Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region Team. Fontbonne University's Josh Kraemer and Josh Burlison, Greenville College's Stefan Neece, Matt Leefers and Bryan Hobbie and Webster University's Victor Valdez, Will Savage, David Mueller, Craig Schaefer all earned the honor.
Hobbie, a senior outfielder, was the lone player named to the Rawlings/ABCA Central Region Gold Glove Team. He posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in center field, recording 95 putouts and one assist in 96 total chances. Hobbie was also a Honorable Mention All-SLIAC selection this season.
Neece, Valdez and Savage were all named First Team Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region. Neece, a senior first baseman, was also the 2010 SLIAC Player of the Year and a First Team All-SLIAC selection. He led the Panthers this season with a .487 batting average, 67 RBI, 57 hits, 51 runs scored, 19 home runs and 11 doubles. He also posted a 1.085 slugging percentage, .663 on-base percentage, 11 stolen bases and a .991 fielding percentage with 327 putouts and 22 assists in 352 total chances.
Valdez, a senior outfielder, led the Gorloks at the plate with a .385 batting average, 70 RBI, 67 hits, 52 runs scored, 16 home runs, 13 doubles and three triples. As the starting right fielder, he also recorded a .982 fielding percentage with 50 putouts and five assists in 56 total chances. Valdez was also a Honorable Mention All-SLIAC honoree this season.
Savage, a senior pitcher, also received First Team All-SLIAC honors this season. He was the Gorloks' top hurler with a 9-0 record on the mound, including six complete games and three shutouts. Savage posted a 1.52 ERA in 82.2 innings of work and struck out a total of 72 batters. He also held his opponents to a .172 batting average.
Mueller, a sophomore pitcher, was the lone SLIAC player named to the Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region Second Team. Mueller, who was also a Second Team All-SLIAC selection this season, recorded a 2.08 ERA in 78.0 innings on the mound. He was 8-1 in 13 total appearances and pitched three complete games and one combined shutout. Mueller also tallied a total of 63 strikeouts.
Schaefer, Leefers, Kraemer and Burlison all received Third Team Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region honors. Schaefer, a junior designated hitter, went 61-for-175 at the plate for a .349 batting average. He recorded 41 RBI, 41 runs scored, 12 doubles and nine home runs, while also going 5-of-5 in stolen base attempts. Schaefer was also a Second Team All-SLIAC selection this season.
Leefers, a senior pitcher, was the SLIAC Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-SLIAC honoree. He was 8-4 on the mound with one save, earning the decision or a save in 13 out of 14 total appearances. He posted a 2.31 ERA in 78.0 innings of work, while also recording six complete games and two shutouts. Leefers also recorded 53 strikeouts and allowed only 17 walks in 296 batters faced.
Kraemer, a senior third baseman, also received First Team All-SLIAC honors this season. He finished the season with a .390 batting average and recorded 60 hits, 57 RBI, 31 runs scored, 14 doubles and five home runs. His 57 RBI was also a team-high for the Griffins.
Burlison, a senior shortstop, led Fontbonne at the plate with a .434 batting average. He went 62-for-143 with 46 RBI, 39 runs scored, 12 doubles, six home runs and four triples. Burlison, who was a First Team All-SLIAC selection, also was 24-of-28 in stolen base attempts.