(Courtesy MAC)
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Ohio junior Marc Krauss, the 2009 MAC Player of Year highlights the 30-player all-conference squad that was announced today by the league office in conjunction with the MAC Tournament (May 20-23). Bowling Green’s Brennan Smith was named MAC Pitcher of the Year, while BGSU skipper Danny Schmitz was chosen as Coach of the Year. In addition, Kent State relief pitcher Andrew Chafin was named the MAC’s Freshman of the Year. The league’s 12 head coaches conducted the voting for the 15-member first and 16-member second All-MAC teams.
Krauss finished the regular season leading the league in homeruns (24), RBI’s (64), total bases (162) and slugging percentage (.814). He was also second in the MAC in on-base % (.508) and third in runs scored (69). His 69 runs rank third in a single season at Ohio, while his 64 RBIs are second on the single-season list, as is his slugging percentage and total bases. Krauss had a career-long 17-game hit streak from Feb. 21-March 24, the longest streak by a Bobcat this year. He has hit safely in 41 of Ohio's 50 games this year. Krauss is first Bobcat to win MAC Player of the Year.
Smith started 14 games compiling an 8-3 record with a 4.17 ERA, the best in the MAC, in 77.2 innings, tied for fourth in the league. Smith has struck out 74, tied for second in the MAC, and walked only 30 while allowing 70 hits. For the season, the opposition has hit only .234 against Smith, the lowest average for any pitcher in the MAC. His eight wins is the top figure in the MAC and ranks 36th in the nationally. In MAC play, he was 6-1 with a 4.66 ERA, fifth in the MAC, in 56.0 innings, fifth in the league. He had 51 strike outs, fourth in the conference, while drawing the starting assignment in the first game of all nine MAC series this year. Smith’s six wins in MAC play led the league. Smith joins Jeff Hundley (1998) and Andy Smith (1997) as the only BG players to earn conference Pitcher of the Year honors.
Schmitz was honored for leading his team to the 2009 Mid-American Conference Regular Season and East Division championship. The Falcons won the 2009 MAC regular season title with a18-9 record, while finishing 28-20 overall. This marks the third time that Schmitz has won the award. He also took home Coach of the Year honors in 1994 and 1995.
Chafin enjoyed a fantastic debut season with Kent State and is 4-1 this year with eight saves. He has a 1.26 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched. One of his best outings of the year came against nationally-ranked Ohio State (April 15), where he threw the final 1.1 innings to preserve the Golden Flashes 8-7 win over the Buckeyes in Columbus. In the series opener against Northern Illinois (April 3), Chafin recorded a three-inning save, striking out seven of the 10 batters he faced. In three innings, he threw only 42 pitches (14 per inning). He struck out the side in the eighth and ninth inning.
Six schools were represented on the first-team, led by Bowling Green with four selections. Named to the team for the Falcons were Smith, Matt Malewitz, Logan Meisler and Ryan Shay. Miami had three selections apiece on the first-team as Tom Nurre, Adam Eaton and Matt Erwood represented the RedHawks. Ohio also had three selections on the first squad with Krauss, Gauntlett Eldemire and Chris Rigo. Ball State’s Zach Dygert, Jeremy Hazelbaker and Kolbrin Vitek represented the Ball State Cardinals, while Kent State’s Chafin and Eastern Michigan’s Matt Skirving rounded out the selections.
Kent State had four selections on the second-team as Greg Rohan, Jared Humphreys, Jon Pokorny and Jimmy Rider represented the Golden Flashes. Ohio’s Brandon Besl, Hayden Johnston and Robert Maddox III claimed spots on the second-team for the Bobcats. Tyler Elkins and Derek Spencer were named on the second-team for the Falcons, while Eastern Michigan’s Jim Gulliver and Corey Chaffins accompanied them on the second squad. Central Michigan also had two selections in Dan Taylor and Trent Howard. Ball State’s Ian Nielsen, Northern Illinois’ Jordin Hood and Toledo’s Matt Kuna rounded out this year’s team.
MAC Player of the Year -- Marc Krauss, Ohio, 3B
MAC Pitcher of the Year -- Brennan Smith, Bowling Green, RHP
MAC Freshman of the Year -- Andrew Chafin, Kent State, LHP
MAC Coach of the Year -- Danny Schmitz, Bowling Green
All-MAC First Team
C- Zach Dygert, Ball State
1B- Tom Nurre, Miami
2B- Logan Meisler, Bowling Green
SS- Ryan Shay, Bowling Green
3B- Marc Krauss, Ohio
OF- Jeremy Hazelbaker, Ball State
OF- Gauntlett Eldemire, Ohio
OF- Adam Eaton, Miami
SP- Brennan Smith, Bowling Green
SP- Matt Erwood, Miami
SP- Chris Rigo, Ohio
SP- Matt Malewitz, Bowling Green
RP- Andrew Chafin, Kent State
DH- Matt Skirving, Eastern Michigan
Utility- Kobrin Vitek, Ball State
All-MAC Second Team
C- Tyler Elkins, Bowling Green
1B- Greg Rohan, Kent State
2B - Jimmy Rider, Kent State
SS- Jim Gulliver, Eastern Michigan
3B- Derek Spencer, Bowling Green
OF- Jared Humphreys, Kent State
OF- Jordin Hood, Northern Illinois
OF- Hayden Johnston, Ohio
SP- Dan Taylor, Central Michigan
SP- Trent Howard, Central Michigan
SP - Matt Kuna, Toledo
SP- Corey Chaffins, Eastern Michigan
RP- Jon Pokorny, Kent State
DH- Robert Maddox, Ohio
Utility- Brandon Besl, Ohio and Ian Nielsen, Ball State
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