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JACKSON, Tenn. – Three Panther baseball players earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors on Tuesday night as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
Caleb Howell and
Brant Valach were selected to the second team while
Jake Johansmeier was tabbed to the all-newcomer team.
Howell earns All-OVC honors for the second consecutive year as he was selected to the all-newcomer team a year ago. The sophomore outfielder led the team in batting average, hitting .362 to rank fifth overall in the conference. He was also tied for the team-lead in hits with 64 while adding 29 runs, 20 RBI and 10 extra-base hits. The Jacksonville, Ill., native had a team-best .442 on-base percentage to go along with a .446 slugging percentage as the team's lead-off hitter. During OVC play, he hit .377 to pace the team.
Valach also earns All-OVC honors for the second consecutive season as he was tabbed to the all-newcomer team in 2012 in addition being named the 'OVC Rookie of the Year'. The sophomore infielder was tied for the team-lead in hits with 64 while posting a .332 batting average. He also added 35 RBI, 34 runs and four home runs. The Orland Park, Ill., native also ranked second on the team in doubles with 19 – tied for the sixth most in EIU single-season history. During OVC play, he posted a .349 batting average.
Johansmeier was only one of four pitchers named to the 13-member All-OVC Newcomer Team. The right-handed pitcher posted a 3-4 record with a 3.70 ERA in 20 appearances (eight starts). He had 33 strikeouts on the year with one save and one complete game in 48.2 innings of work. During OVC play, he had a team-best 3.27 ERA in 11 appearances (five starts) with 21 strikeouts. The St. Charles, Ill., native held opposing hitters to a .222 batting average in 33 innings of action in conference play.
Austin Peay's Craig Massoni was named OVC Player of the Year while teammate Tyler Rogers was named OVC Pitcher of the Year. Kyle Nowlin of Eastern Kentucky was named OVC Rookie of the Year and Tennessee Tech's Matt Bragga was tabbed OVC Coach of the Year.
