June 3, 2008

Complete All-Independent / All-Academic Baseball Teams (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University freshman Justin Morreim/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) has been named to the 2008 Division I Baseball All-Independent second-team, while senior Nick von Gersdorff/Purcellville (Loudoun Valley), junior John Walker II/Alexandria (West Potomac), and sophomore David Smiy Jr./Chesterfield (Motoaca) each garnered Independent All-Academic Team honors.  Le Moyne College outfielder Chris Edmondson (.367, 14 HR, 64 RBI) has been selected as the Division I Independent Baseball Player of the Year, teammate and right-hander Eric Beaulac (9-2, 2.83 ERA) was chosen as Pitcher of the Year, Dallas Baptist University head coach Dan Heefner (37-19) is the Coach of the Year, and NYIT third baseman Effrey Valdez (.332, 10 HR, 44 RBI) was picked as the Newcomer of the Year. 
   
Justin Morreim made the team as a designated hitter/utility player after hitting .319 with three home runs, two triples, 13 doubles, 29 RBI, 31 runs, a .479 slugging percentage, a .356 on-base percentage, and a .981 fielding percentage.  He led the team in doubles and had 15 multi-hit games, eight multi-RBI games, and a season-best eight-game hitting streak while starting 42 of 43 games at four different positions: DH (24), 1B (15), 2B (2), LF (1).  Morreim was earlier named this year's Longwood Freshman Male Athlete of the Year, and was an honorable mention choice as a first baseman on the 2008 ALL PING! FRESHMAN TEAM.
   
Nick von Gersdorff earned academic honors for the third-straight season as he graduated with a 3.71 GPA while majoring in business finance.  An infielder/outfielder, he started 44 of 47 games while hitting .285 with three home runs, two triples, nine doubles, 40 RBI, 14 runs, a .424 slugging percentage, a .310 on-base percentage, and a .976 fielding percentage.  von Gersdorff led the team in RBI and saw time at first base and led the team in putouts (224) as well.  He had 12 multi-hit games, a team-best 11 multi-RBI games, and a season-best seven-game hitting streak.  von Gersdorff was earlier named this year's Longwood Male Athlete of the Year and was awarded the Male Henry I. Willett Scholar-Athlete Award.
   
John Walker earned academic honors for the second year in a row as he has attained a 3.37 GPA while majoring in athletic training.  A right-handed pitcher, he started 10 of 14 games with a team-best four complete games while going 6-4 on the mound with a 4.57 ERA through a team-best 69.0 innings with 35 strikeouts and only eight walks (1.04, best on team).
   
David Smiy earned academic honors for the first time as he has attained a 3.85 GPA while majoring in business finance.  An outfielder, he started 35 of 43 games while hitting .287 with one home run, two triples, eight doubles, 19 RBI, 13 runs, a .426 slugging percentage, a .339 on-base percentage, and a .929 fielding percentage.  Smiy had nine multi-hit games, five multi-RBI games, and a season-best four-game hitting streak.
   
Voting was conducted among both the head coaches and sports information directors at the Independent schools for selecting the 2008 Division I All-Independent Baseball Team.
   
Longwood finished 2008 with a final record of 23-26-1, attaining its 27th overall 20-win campaign in the program's 31-year history while 30th-year head coach Charles 'Buddy' Bolding completed the year with an overall coaching record of 818-435-4.  The Lancers could return as many as 20 letterwinners for the 2009 campaign.