May 8, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - Metro State outfielder Brennan Brown earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors and Reece Gorman, Jake Palmer, Steven Green and Josh Eckert earned first team all-RMAC accolades, as the RMAC announced its baseball awards Thursday afternoon.

Shortstop Matt McConnell and starting pitcher Armando Casas were named to the second team, while Brown, second baseman Troy Spahn, and pitchers Joel Lockhart, Ted Jamison and Derek Colbert all were named honorable mention.

It is the third all-RMAC selection for both Gorman and Palmer. Gorman was the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year and a first-team pick last season.

Gorman leads the Roadrunners in average (.424), runs (81) and doubles (27), while he ranks second in RBI (62). His 81 runs and 27 doubles are school records and lead the RMAC. Palmer leads the team in both home runs (12) and RBI (89), while he ranks second in average (.410). He also leads the RMAC in RBI and ranks fourth in home runs. Brown ranks third on the team in average (.408) and RBI (48).

Green set a Metro State record for wins with 10, while Eckert has six wins and a team-best 5.30 ERA in relief after starting his first three seasons.

McConnell is hitting .400, while Casas is 7-1 and leads the team with 75 strikeouts this year.

Mesa State's Mike Provencher was named the Player of the Year, while Ryan Sheldon of Nebraska-Kearney was named Pitcher of the Year. Chris Hanks of Mesa State and Jarrid Oates of Colorado School of Mines earned Co-Coach of the Year honors.

Metro State, 38-18 overall, faces New Mexico Highlands in the second round of the RMAC Tournament, today at 3 p.m.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2008 Baseball Awards

First Team all-RMAC

Reece Gorman, C, Sr., Metro State
Curtis Englehart, 1B, Sr., Mesa State
James Mayorga, 2B, Jr., New Mexico Highlands
Kyle Hogue, 3B, Sr., Mesa State
Mike Provencher, SS, Jr., Mesa State
Jake Palmer, OF, Sr., Metro State
Travon Jackson, OF, Sr., New Mexico Highlands
Etienne Materre, OF, Sr., Regis
Nick Walker, OF, Sr., Colorado School of Mines
Matt Miller, DH, Jr., Mesa State
Dan Kozloski, Inf., Sr., Regis
Ryan Sheldon, SP, Jr., Nebraska-Kearney
Chris Carma, SP, Jr., Mesa State
Steven Green, SP, Jr., Metro State
Andrew Kaiser, SP, Sr., Colorado Christian
Josh Eckert, RP, Sr., Metro State

Player of the Year: Mike Provencher, Mesa State
Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Sheldon, Nebraska-Kearney
Freshman of the Year: Brennan Brown, Metro State
Coach of the Year: Chris Hanks, Mesa State and Jarrid Oates, Colorado School of Mines

Second Team all-RMAC

Peter Whatley, Sr., C, Regis
Chris Steinbeck, 1B, So., Regis
Andrew Martinez, 2B, Jr., Mesa State
Trey Howell, 3B, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney
Matt McConnell, SS, Jr., Metro State
Thomas Cordova, OF, Jr., CSU-Pueblo
Chris Cassell, OF, Jr., Mesa State
Rutger Bovard, OF, Jr., CSU-Pueblo
Jordan Bruns, 3B, Sr., Regis
Tyler Hageman, OF, Sr., Regis
Caleb Rudkin, Inf., Sr., Colorado School of Mines
Mario Mattivi, SP, Jr., CSU-Pueblo
Armando Casas, SP, Sr., Metro State
T.J. Butch, SP, Jr., Mesa State
Anthony Musielak, SP, Sr., Regis
Marshall Schuler, RP, So., Colorado School of Mines

Honorable Mention all-RMAC (Metro State only)
Brennan Brown, Troy Spahn, Joel Lockhart, Ted Jamison, Derek Colbert