Tiffin, Ohio – January 12, 2011 – Four members of the nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team have been named to the D3baseball.com Preseason All-American team. Landing a spot on the first team was senior third baseman Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic), senior right-handed closer Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) and junior right fielder Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start). Sophomore right-handed starter Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes) was named to the honorable mention team.
This group of Heidelberg student-athletes helps to make up the fourth annual preseason All-American team by D3Baseball.com. The preseason team is coming off a year that they combined to hit .423 and was 46-9 on the mound with 28 saves. Brechun was one of four unanimous selections.
A four-year starter, Brechun is coming off a junior campaign that landed him All-American honors from D3Baseabll.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He was also named to the Mideast Region and All-Ohio Athletic Conference teams. For the year he set a new OAC and Heidelberg record for doubles with 26, while hitting .429 with 65 runs batted in, both of which were second on the team. At the hot corner, Brechun fielded .913 with 98 assists and 28 putouts.
Returning for his final year as Heidelberg’s closer is Lowe. He is a three-time All-American over the course of his career. Aside from All-American honors from D3Baseball.com and the ABCA a season ago, Lowe was also tabbed the Mideast Region Pitcher of the Year, as well as the OAC’s Kent Tekelve Co-Pitcher of the Year. It was the second straight year he was the top pitcher in the OAC. He has set a new Heidelberg career record for saves at 30 and has found himself atop the single season saves record at the Berg in each of the last three years. In 2010 he made 28 appearances and finished with 12 saves, a 5-3 record and a 2.92 earned run average.
Lizcano will look to build off his impressive sophomore campaign this spring. In 2010 he was named an All-American by D3Baseball.com and the ABCA following his selection as the Mideast Region and the Jack Rafeld OAC Player of the Year. He also landed a spot on the All-OAC First Team. From his leadoff spot he led the Berg in hitting (.445), hits (94), home runs (15), total bases (165), runs scored (74) and runs batted in (71). His statistical marks set new Heidelberg single season records for runs scored, hits, RBI and total bases, while tying the home run mark.
On the mound in 2010 Holt emerged into the starting rotation early and did not disappoint. He got the ball in 11 of his 14 appearances and finished the year leading the staff with a 2.38 ERA. Holt finished at 9-1 with 58 strike outs. For his efforts he was named to the All-OAC and the All-Mideast Region Teams.