Austintown, Ohio – May 16, 2011 – The Heidelberg University baseball team placed a league-leading 12 honorees on the 2011 Ohio Athletic Conference Baseball Team. The 12 selections are the most in a single season for the Berg, topping its 11 from 2009.
Leading the list of honorees is first team recipients Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start), Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic), Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) and Nathan James (Rockport, Ind. / South Spencer).
Landing a spot on the second team was Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston), Derek Andrzejczak (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview), Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland), Sylvester Nino (Willard, Ohio / Willard) and Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes).
Rounding out the list of all-league honorees with a spot on the honorable mention list is Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) and Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview).
Lash, a senior shortstop, is picking up his fourth consecutive first team award. His all-league award joins his Capital One Academic All-District IV First Team honor from two weeks ago. In his final campaign Lash leads the team with 19 doubles, while tied for first with 43 runs scored. He also stands second with a .371 batting average and fourth with 33 runs batted in.
Repeating on the first team from a season ago is Lizcano. The junior right fielder leads the team with a .403 batting average, as well as with 64 hits, nine home runs, 51 runs scored and a .686 slugging percentage. He is second with 15 stolen bases.
Also a repeat first teamer from 2010 is Brechun. In his last season at the hot corner Brechun is batting .361, which stands third on the team. He has knocked in a team-leading 61 runs, while scoring 33 of his own. He is also second with seven home runs and with 61 hits.
A four-time all-league performer, including three-time first team recipient is Lowe. The senior right-handed closer set a new NCAA Division III record for career saves at 44 and counting. He also topped his own Heidelberg single season saves record with 14 and counting. He is third on the pitching staff with a 2.17 earned run average and is second with 52 strike outs. Overall he owns a 4-1 record.
Saving his best season for last has been James. A senior right-handed starter, James’ all-league on the field honor joins his Capital One Academic All-District IV Second Team honors this season. James leads the pitchers with a 1.98 earned run average and a 6-1 record. He has struck out 45 in 10 starts.
Picking up his first athletic OAC honor of his four-year career is Monroe. Monroe is no stranger to the Academic All-OAC list and has landed on the Capital One Academic All-District IV Second Team this season. At the plate the left fielder is hitting .352 with 56 hits in 159 at bats. He has scored 43 runs and leads the team with 23 hit by pitches.
Receiving his first postseason honor of his career is Andrzejczak. He has handled first base for the Berg in his final two seasons. In his final season Andrzejczak is hitting .303. He has knocked in 35 runs, while scoring 17of his own. He has tallied 50 hits, including six doubles and three home runs.
Another four-time All-OAC pick for the Berg is Keen. He a senior second baseman and has helped to turn 34 double plays on the year. Offensively he has 51 hits with 38 RBI. He has 10 doubles, which ranks third on the team, while scoring 33 runs which stands tied for fourth.
Nino, a right-handed pitcher, is in his third season on the mound and is picking up his first all-league recognition. He has recorded a handful of OAC Pitcher of the Week honors in his first three years to go along with his postseason honor as a junior. Nino owns a 2.72 ERA with a 5-3 record. In 12 appearances, nine starts, Nino has struck out 53 batters, which is third on the staff.
In just two seasons Holt is already established himself as a top pitcher in the OAC with picking up his second straight all-league honor. The sophomore right-handed starter is 8-2 on the year in 11 starts. In 65.1 innings of work Holt has struck out 43 batters and owns a 4.55 ERA.
Senior centerfielder Buelow is picking up his first postseason athletic honor in 2011. His spot on the all-league team joins his Capital One Academic All-District First Team selection. Buelow is batting .319 with 43 hits in 135 at bats. He has knocked in 20 runs and scored 24 of his own.
Finally, Koehl is earning his third All-OAC honor. He previously was named to the honorable mention team as a sophomore and named to the second team as a junior. Koehl is in his fourth season as a starter on the mound. In 11 starts he owns a 5-3 record with a staff-leading 68 strike outs.
Heidelberg, ranked ninth in the nation, boasts an overall record of 33-11. The Berg finished runner-up in the OAC this season and are set to embark on its fifth NCAA Mideast Regional. The two-seed of the Mideast Regional, Heidelberg will face seventh-seeded Penn State-Altoona on Wednesday, May 18 at 4:30 p.m.