Bazant highlights all-MCAC baseball selections

YORK, Neb. -- Senior Anthony Bazant was named the 2011 MCAC Player of the Year and five Bruins earned first team all-conference honors in announcement made today in conjunction with the 2011 MCAC Baseball Tourament at York College. 

Joining Bazant on the first team were second baseman Junior Martinez, left fielder Hector Morales, designated hitter Juan Rodriguez, and left-handed pitcher Eric Locke. In addition, Martinez and Bazant were also named to the MCAC Gold Glove Team.

Bruins on the second team included short stop Tylor Pavel, first baseman Brandon Thompson, right fielder Francisco Rosario, and right-handed pitcher Mike Andrick.

Bazant leads the Bruins and the league with a .450 batting average and 12 doubles while starting all 49 games. He is third on the squad with 27 stolen bases.

Martinez is batting .356 with 11 doubles, 19 RBIs, and a team-leading 40 stolen bases.

Morales is third on the team with a .394 batting average and 11 doubles and is second with 32 stolen bases.

Rodriguez is batting .319 with eight doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs.

Locke leads the Bruins with a 7-1 record and three shutouts, while maintaining a 2.53 ERA to go along with 40 strikeouts.

The Bruins (30-19, 13-4 MCAC) finished second in the MCAC regular season standings and will take on top-seeded York College in the MCAC Tournanment championship game on Friday (May 6) beginning at 1 p.m. Bellevue is undefeated in the double-elimination tournament. If York win the first game, a second championship game will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

All-MCAC First Team
C - Gene Felise (York College)
C - Trent Oxenreider (College of the Ozarks)
1B - Nick Nguyen (York College)
2B - Junior Martinez (Bellevue University)
3B - Sam Feiner (York College)
SS - Jeff Bernacil (York College)
INF - Denton Wolf (College of the Ozarks)
OF - Anthony Bazant (Bellevue University)
OF - Cory Ford (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
OF - Pat Burford (York College)
OF - Hector Morales (Bellevue University)
DH - Juan Rodriguez (Bellevue University)
SP - Andre Kinder (Peru State College)
SP - Eric Locke (Bellevue University)
SP - Chris Needham (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
SP - Josh Trejo (York College)
RP - Chris Dempsey (York College)

MCAC Player of the Year - Anthony Bazant (Bellevue University)
MCAC Pitcher of the Year - Chris Needham (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
MCAC Freshman of the Year - Kraig Kelley (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
MCAC Newcomer of the Year - Junior Martinez (Bellevue University)
MCAC Coach of the Year - Nick Harlan (York College)

All-MCAC Second Team
C - Kraig Kelley (Oklahoma Wesleyan University
1B - Matt Martin (Peru State College)
2B - Alejandro Gonzalez (Peru State College)
3B - Brett Frost (Central Christian College)
SS - Tylor Pavel (Bellevue University)
INF - Brandon Thompson (Bellevue University)
INF - JD Nalder (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
OF - Jonathon Castillo (Peru State College)
OF - Kris Little (York College)
OF - Pat Knabe (Peru State College)
OF - Francisco Rosario (Bellevue University)
SP - Bruce Amende (York College)
SP - Thomas Kellner (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
SP - Jon Sanley (Peru State College)
SP - Mike Andrick (Bellevue University)
RP - Evan White (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)

MCAC Gold Glove Team
1B - Nick Nguyen (York College)
2B - Junior Martinez (Bellevue University)
3B - Sam Feiner (York College)
SS - JD Nalder (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
LF - Johnny Porter (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
CF - Anthony Bazant (Bellevue University)
RF - Pat Knabe (Peru State College)
C - Gene Felise (York College)
P - Chris Needham (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)