May 21, 2008

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Ohio senior Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) and sophomore Marc Krauss (Deshler, Ohio) were named to the 2008 All-MAC First Team and junior Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned second team honors, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Stiffler and Krauss become the first Bobcat tandem to be named to the first team since Anthony Gressick and Ben Crabtree did so in 2005.

Stiffler has had a phenomenal final season with the Bobcats. The centerfielder is ninth in the MAC in batting (.358), second in hits (1.56 per game/86 total), first in runs scored (1.25 per game/69 total), fourth in home runs (.29 per game/16 total), second in triples (6), seventh in RBI (1.02 per game/56 total), first in total bases (2.87 per game) and third in slugging percentage (.658). The Bellbrook, Ohio, native has also assaulted the Ohio record book during his final season. He is currently first in career triples (16), third in runs scored (172), fifth in total bases (361), seventh in hits (225) and tied for seventh in doubles (41) all-time at Ohio. Stiffler's 86 hits this season tie for fourth at Ohio in a single season and put him just six away from establishing a new Bobcat record. His 16 home runs on the year are tied for fourth-most in a season in Ohio history. Stiffler's 69 runs scored (second-most), 158 total bases (third-most) and 56 RBI (tied for sixth-most) all rank in the top 10 for a single season as well. Last year Stiffler earned All-MAC Second Team recognition.

This is Krauss' second straight selection to the first team, after being named MAC Freshman of the Year and a first teamer last season. For the second straight year Krauss was named to the team as the Utility/At-Large selection. Krauss has a .340 average at the plate this season, along with nine home runs and 47 RBI. The Deshler, Ohio, native finished the MAC regular season fourth in the conference in runs scored (1.13 per game/60 total), sixth in doubles (.36 per game/19) and fourth in walks (.81 per game/43 total). His 19 doubles are tied for fourth in Ohio history for a single season and the 43 walks he has drawn on the season are just four shy of an Ohio record.

Besl had a breakout season for the Bobcats en route to his first All-MAC selection. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native was named the third baseman on the All-MAC Second Team after leading the team and finishing fifth in the MAC with a .378 batting average. Besl completed the regular season at the top of several league statistical categories, including third in hits (1.55 per game/65 total), first in doubles (.45 per game/19 total), fourth in RBI (1.07 per game/45 total), third in total bases (2.69 per game/113 total) and fourth in slugging percentage (.657). Besl's 19 doubles are tied with Krauss for fourth all-time in a single season and give him 41 for his career, sixth-most at Ohio.

Kent State's Greg Rohan was named the MAC Player of the Year and the Golden Flashes' Chris Carpenter picked up Pitcher of the Year honors. Freshman of the Year went to Brian Stroud of Western Michigan and Coach of the Year was awarded to Jake Boss of Eastern Michigan.

Player of the Year: Greg Rohan, Kent State
Pitcher of the Year: Chris Carpenter, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: Brian Stroud, Western Michigan
Coach of the Year: Jake Boss, Eastern Michigan

All-MAC First Team
1B- Greg Rohan, Kent State (*unanimous selection*)
2B- Josh Ivan, Kent State
SS- Ryan Shay, Bowling Green
3B- Derek Spencer, Bowling Green
C- Justin Behm, Northern Illinois
OF- Wayne Bond, Ball State
OF- Matt Stiffler, Ohio
OF- Chris Lewis, Western Michigan
SP- Chris Carpenter, Kent State
SP- Kyle Smith, Kent State
SP- Ethan Hollingsworth, Western Michigan
SP- Brian Stroud, Western Michigan
RP- Kyle Heyne, Ball State
DH- Kurt Davidson, Akron (*unanimous selection*)
Utility/At-Large- Marc Krauss, Ohio

All-MAC Second Team
1B- Ton Nurre, Miami
2B- Doug Sanders, Kent State
SS- Chris Tremblay, Kent State
3B- Brandon Besl, Ohio
C- Zach Dygert, Ball State
OF- Tyler Stovall, Central Michigan
OF- Anthony Gallas, Kent State
OF- Jeff Thomas, Northern Illinois
SP- Mike Stangroom, Buffalo
SP- Matt Shoemaker, Eastern Michigan
SP- Billy Morrison, Western Michigan
SP- Trevor Feeney, Northern Illinois
RP- Andy Deain, Northern Illinois
DH- Pedro Dager, Western Michigan
Utility/At-Large- Jordan Petraitis, Miami