Tiffin, Ohio – May 24, 2010 – The nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team is represented by eight on the 2010 Mideast Region team announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) today, May 24.
Of its eight honorees, six were first team recipients including, senior catcher Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield), junior third baseman Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic), junior short stop Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), sophomore right fielder Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start), junior right-handed closer Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) and freshman right-handed pitcher Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes).
Earning a spot on the second team was junior second baseman Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland), while junior right-handed pitcher Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) was an honorable mention selection.
Its eight honorees is an all-time best for the Berg, topping its six selections from a season ago. Also its six first team recipients is an all-time high for Heidelberg. The six first teamers now move on to the ballot for All-American recognition.
Heidelberg is in the midst of preparing for the Division III World Series set for May 28-June 1 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis. The Berg earned a spot at the World Series after winning the Mideast Regional Championship last weekend with a 6-2 win over Marietta College. Its trip to Appleton is the first ever for the program and the Berg will face Johns Hopkins University in its opening game on Friday, May 28. The Berg is riding a 17-game winning streak heading into the World Series and owns an overall record of 40-6. Aside from its regional title this season, the Berg claimed its fifth Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship and its fourth OAC Tournament trophy.
Decker is picking up his first all-region honor of his career. The three-year starting catcher also is a three-time All-OAC performer, earning a spot on the first team this season. He has saved his best season for last, batting .408 with 71 hits in 174 at bats. Of his 71 hits he has 20 extra base snags. He has set a new single-season record for hit by pitches at 23. In the field he has thrown out 22 would be base stealers and owns a .992 fielding percentage.
Joining Decker as a first time recipient of all-region honors is Brechun. At the plate, Brechun leads the team with 26 doubles, while sharing the team lead with Lizcano with 88 hits and is second with 65 runs batted in. He has also scored 59 times. At the hot corner, Brechun has a .917 fielding percentage and had helped to turn 11 double plays. His 26 doubles has set a new single season record at Heidelberg and in the OAC. He has already topped the single season record book in hits as well.
Lash is picking up his third all-region honor. He was a first team selection in 2008 and was a third team pick a season ago. Lash ranks third don the team with a .421 batting average. He is second in doubles with 25 and in hits with 77. He stands third in runs batted in with 54. In the field, Lash has helped to turn 30 double plays and owns a .950 fielding percentage.
Lizcano has made an impact from the onset of the season. His first all-region honor joins his All-OAC First Team nod and his selection as the OAC’s Jack Rafeld Player of the Year. He has been a mainstay in the starting line up the entire season, spending the majority of his time in right field. At the plate he leads the team in batting average (.456), runs scored (74), home runs (15) and runs batted in (67). He shares team honors with Brechun with 88 hits. In the field, Lizcano owns a .982 fielding percentage in 171 chances.
It is the third time overall that Lowe has been voted to the all-region team and it’s the second straight year he has landed on the first team. Joining his all-region nod is his second straight OAC Kent Tekulve Pitcher of the Year honor and his OAC First Team selection. The junior closer has recorded 12 saves on the year, topping his own school record he has tied in each of his first two seasons. He owns a 2.47 earned run average to lead the staff. Along the way he has struck out 48 and owns an overall record of 4-1. Last weekend he recorded a win and two saves to earn Mideast Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
Rounding out the list of first team honorees is Holt. In just his first season Holt has landed on the all-region and All-OAC First Teams. He leads the Heidelberg pitching staff with 57 strike outs and is tied with nine wins. He ranks second with a 2.60 ERA. Holt has found a spot in the starting rotation from the first week and has started 10 contests and thrown 69.1 innings.
Keen is picking up his second straight nod on the All-Mideast Region team. He is a three-year starter at second base and has landed a spot on the All-OAC First team every year. In his junior campaign, Keen is batting .363 with 70 hits in 193 at bats. He has scored 55 runs, while knocking in 43 of his own. Of his 70 hits, 24 have been for extra bases. On the field, Keen has assisted with 30 doubles plays and owns a .370 fielding percentage.
Koehl has secured his first all-region honor of his career. His all-region honor joins his All-OAC Second Team nod this season and his spot on the All-OAC honorable mention list as a sophomore. For the year, Koehl is an impressive 9-0 on the mound and has 53 strike outs. He has started 10 games and thrown 69.1 innings. Koehl owns a 4.15 earned run