Horizon League announces postseason baseball awards

INDIANAPOLIS -- Thirty three individuals have earned 2009 Horizon League baseball postseason honors. The list is highlighted by five specialty award winners -- Jeff Mercer (Player of the Year), Adam Worthington (Pitcher of the Year), Michael Schum (Relief Pitcher of the Year), Quentin Cate (Newcomer of the Year) and Scott Doffek (Coach of the Year).

Mercer, a senior infielder from Wright State University, ranks among the League's statistical leaders in hits (1st, 83), runs batted in (1st, 64), doubles (1st, 26), runs (2nd, 48), total bases (2nd, 131), slugging percentage (5th, .580), batting average (T-5th, .367), home runs (T-7th, 6) and on-base percentage (T-9th, .410). The Bargersville, Ind., native has helped WSU to a 29-27 overall record and 14-12 Horizon League mark this season. He owns 25 multi-hit performances and 17 multi-RBI efforts in 2009.

Worthington, a senior right-hander from the University of Illinois at Chicago, places among the loop's statistical leaders in innings pitched (2nd, 89.0), earned run average (3rd, 3.24), batting average against (4th, .253), strikeouts (T-4th, 70) and wins (T-9th, 4). The Gurnee, Ill., native has guided UIC to a 26-21 overall record, 17-6 Horizon League mark and its eighth consecutive regular-season conference title.

Schum, a freshman right-hander from Wright State, ranks among the circuit's statistical leaders in ERA (1st, 1.79), batting average against (1st, .214), games finished (1st, 29), saves (2nd, 13), appearances (T-2nd, 31) and relief appearances (T-2nd, 31). The Bright, Ind., native has won three of his last five decisions and maintained an ERA of less than two during the past month.

Cate, a junior infielder from Wright State, places among the League's statistical leaders in home runs (1st, 12), hits (2nd, 80), RBI (2nd, 54), runs (T-3rd, 44), slugging percentage (4th, .606), batting average (T-5th, .367), on-base percentage (6th, .440) and doubles (T-8th, 14). The Cambria, Calif., native and junior college transfer owns 21 multi-hit performances and 15 multi-RBI efforts this season.

Doffek, who has four individuals on the Horizon League's First Team, piloted the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to its best conference record (14-9, .609) since 2002. The Panthers, 26-25 overall (.510), are the No. 2 seed in this week's Horizon League Championship.

Mercer, Worthington and Cate are joined on the All-League First Team by Youngstown State University sophomore right-hander Phil Klein, Valparaiso University senior catcher Matt Lenski, Milwaukee senior second baseman Andy Gerhartz, Youngstown State junior shortstop Jacke Healey, Milwaukee sophomore outfielder Doug Dekoning, Wright State junior outfielder Casey McGrew, Milwaukee junior outfielder Tim Patzman, Cleveland State University senior designated hitter Josh Hungerman and Milwaukee senior utility man Shawn Wozniak.

Schum is joined on the All-League Second Team by UIC junior left-hander Chris Kovacevich, UIC freshman catcher Nathan Orf, UIC senior first baseman Brandon Harwell, Youngstown State sophomore second baseman David Leon, Wright State junior shortstop R.J. Gundolff, UIC sophomore third baseman Jason Ganek, Cleveland State senior outfielder Brad Buell, UIC senior outfielder Jake Carr, Valparaiso senior outfielder Dan DeBruin, Milwaukee senior designated hitter Josh Groves and Youngstown State junior utility man Eric Marzec.

Schum, Cate, Healey and Orf were also given the nod for the All-Newcomer Team, which is not position specific. The 12-person group features Butler University freshman right-hander Mike Hernandez, Cleveland State freshman first baseman Tyler Wynn, Milwaukee freshman third baseman Paul Hoenecke, Wright State freshman outfielder Ryan Ashe, Cleveland State junior outfielder Ryan Franks, Valparaiso freshman outfielder Kyle Gaedele, Valpo freshman outfielder Steven Scoby and Wright State freshman utility man Jake Hibberd.

The 2009 Horizon League Baseball Championship will be hosted by Cleveland State and all games will be played at the Pipe Yard Stadium in Lorain, Ohio. The event becomes a double-elimination affair after Tuesday's opening-round game, which features No. 6 Youngstown State and No. 7 Butler at 3 p.m. ET.

The remaining schedule includes two games on Wednesday (11 a.m. & 3 p.m.), three contests on Thursday (11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.), three affairs on Friday (11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.) and two tilts on Saturday (11 a.m. & 3 p.m.). The "if necessary" game is slated for Sunday at 11 a.m.

No. 4 Valparaiso and No. 5 Cleveland State will open tournament play on Wednesday at 11 a.m, while No. 3 Wright State will take on the winner of the opening-round contest Wednesday at 3 p.m.

No. 2 Milwaukee jumps in the action on Thursday at 3 p.m., while top-seeded UIC begins play that day at 7 p.m.

Both Saturday affairs and Sunday's "if necessary" tilt will be shown live on the Horizon League Network (www.HorizonLeagueNetwork.tv).

  

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Mercer (Wright State, Sr., INF)

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Adam Worthington (UIC, Sr., RHP)

RELIEF PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Michael Schum (Wright State, Fr., RHP)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Quentin Cate (Wright State, Jr., INF)

COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Doffek (Milwaukee)

FIRST TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
P -- Phil Klein (Youngstown State, So.)
P -- Adam Worthington (UIC, Sr.)
C -- Matt Lenski (Valparaiso, Sr.)
1B -- Jeff Mercer (Wright State, Sr.)
2B -- Andy Gerhartz (Milwaukee, Sr.)
SS -- Jacke Healey (Youngstown State, Jr.)
3B -- Quentin Cate (Wright State, Jr.)
OF -- Doug Dekoning (Milwaukee, So.)
OF -- Casey McGrew (Wright State, Jr.)
OF -- Tim Patzman (Milwaukee, Jr.)
DH -- Josh Hungerman (Cleveland State, Sr.)
UT -- Shawn Wozniak (Milwaukee, Sr.)

SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
P -- Chris Kovacevich (UIC, Jr.)
P -- Michael Schum (Wright State, Fr.)
C -- Nathan Orf (UIC, Fr.)
1B -- Brandon Harwell (UIC, Sr.)
2B -- David Leon (Youngstown State, So.)
SS -- R.J. Gundolff (Wright State, Jr.)
3B -- Jason Ganek (UIC, So.)
OF -- Brad Buell (Cleveland State, Sr.)
OF -- Jake Carr (UIC, Sr.)
OF -- Dan DeBruin (Valparaiso, Sr.)
DH -- Josh Groves (Milwaukee, Sr.)
UT -- Eric Marzec (Youngstown State, Jr.)

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
P -- Mike Hernandez (Butler, Fr.)
P -- Michael Schum (Wright State, Fr.)
C -- Nathan Orf (UIC, Fr.)
1B -- Tyler Wynn (Cleveland State, Fr.)
SS -- Jacke Healey (Youngstown State, Jr.)
3B -- Quentin Cate (Wright State, Jr.)
3B -- Paul Hoenecke (Milwaukee, Fr.)
OF -- Ryan Ashe (Wright State, Fr.)
OF -- Ryan Franks (Cleveland State, Jr.)
OF -- Kyle Gaedele (Valparaiso, Fr.)
OF -- Steven Scoby (Valparaiso, Fr.)
UT -- Jake Hibberd (Wright State, Fr.)

NOTE: The All-League Teams are position specific
NOTE: The All-Newcomer Team is NOT position specific