Nees named to All-HCAC team

Saturday, June 26, 2010

FRANKLIN -- Six Franklin College baseball players were named to the 2010 All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team, including the league's Freshman of the Year, as announced by the league office today.

Grizzlies shortstop Nick Stoia (Camby, Ind./Decatur Central) was the fourth Franklin College player to ever be voted the conference's top freshman.

Stoia hit .374 (34-for-91) in 22 HCAC contests, scored 29 runs, and had 26 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples, and two home runs. The freshman batted .335 (57-for-170) with 41 runs, 43 RBI, nine doubles, two triples and three homers overall in 2010.

He had a slugging percentage of .465 and an on-base percentage of .417 for the Grizzlies, who finished the season 26-15 overall and 15-7 in conference play, tying Manchester for second place.

The Grizzlies' other five All-HCAC First Team picks included:

Junior third baseman Alex Boone (Carmel, Ind./H.S.) was a strong candidate for league MVP, hitting .452 with six doubles and five home runs and 30 RBIs in all 22 HCAC games. Boone batted .419 with 14 doubles and nine home runs and 53 RBIs, starting in all 41 contests overall. The junior struck out just six times in 172 at-bats.

Sophomore right-hander Shawn Mattingly (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) posted a 4-0 record in seven HCAC game appearances, including five starts.

He had a 5.75 earned run average, allowed 55 hits and 26 runs (23 earned) in 36.0 innings pitched. He gave up nine walks and had 18 strikeouts. Mattingly was 5-0 overall, had a 6.12 ERA, and allowed 74 hits and 37 runs (34 earned) with 14 walks and 26 strikeouts in 50.0 innings pitched.

Senior right-handed pitcher Luke Mehringer (Jasper, Ind./H.S.) had a 5-1 record in six HCAC game starts.

In 37 and 2/3 innings pitched, Mehringer posted a 4.54 earned run average, allowed 41 hits and 26 runs (19 earned), and gave up 12 walks and recorded 18 strikeouts. The senior was 7-4 overall, had a 3.82 ERA, and allowed 79 hits and 46 runs (33 earned), with 20 walks and 45 strikeouts in 77 and 2/3 innings worked.

Junior right-handed pitcher Cody Nees (Cloverdale, Ind./H.S.) recorded one save in 11 HCAC game appearances.

In 19 and 1/3 innings pitched, Nees posted a 3-1 record and a 2.33 ERA, allowed 16 hits, six runs (five earned), issued nine walks and chalked up 23 strikeouts. Nees was 4-4 overall with three saves, had a 3.06 ERA, and allowed 28 hits and 17 runs (11 earned) with 18 walks and 13 strikeouts in 32 and 1/3 innings.

Senior left fielder Paul Strack (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) hit .392 with six doubles, one triple and four home runs, and 28 RBIs in all 22 HCAC games.

Strack batted .306 with seven doubles, one triple and five homers, and 36 RBIs, starting in all 40 games he played overall.

The All-HCAC Second Team also included one Franklin player. Junior second baseman Ian Sanders (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont) hit .341 with eight doubles, one triple and three home runs and 23 RBIs in 22 HCAC games and batted .309 with 14 doubles, two triples, three homers and 27 RBIs, starting in all 41 of the Grizzlies' games.

The Grizzlies had five HCAC Honorable Mention players -- freshman pitcher Brett Andrzejewski (Westfield, Ind./Washington), sophomore right fielder Jarrett Johnson (Beech Grove, Ind./H.S.), sophomore catcher/designated hitter Jordon Klinedinst (Lebanon, Ind./H.S.), junior first baseman Jordan Smuts (New Haven, Ind./H.S.) and junior center fielder Matt Zmich (Noblesville, Ind./Westfield Washington).

Anderson senior outfielder Chris Jarrett was named the HCAC Most Valuable Player and Ravens head coach Don Brandon was voted the HCAC Coach of the Year.