[Kutztown Press Release] SIX GOLDEN BEARS EARN ALL-PSAC EAST HONORS, KU REMAINS #1 IN REGION

[Josh Leiboff]

May 9, 2007

SIX GOLDEN BEARS EARN ALL-PSAC EAST HONORS
Blum Named PSAC East Coach of the Year, KU remains #1 in region

KUTZTOWN, PA - Kutztown University's baseball team had six players named to All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division honors in voting conducted by the division's coaches.  In addition, head coach Chris Blum was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year.  

            Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson) was a double first-team honoree as a starting and relief pitcher.  Ryan Loper (sr. Boiling Springs/Cumberland Valley) was also a double honoree, earning first team honors as an outfielder and second-team as a starting pitcher.  Third baseman Nate Kranz (so. Silver Spring/Cumberland Valley), utility player Sean Bond (sr. Malvern/Great Valley)and starting pitcher Jason Mills (sr. Hatfield/North Penn)  rounded out KU's first-team selections.  Outfielder Chad Lightcap (so. Boyertown/Boyertown) earned second-team honors.

            McCardell is a two-time All-PSAC East performer for the second-straight year. Last year, he was selected to the first team as a starting pitcher and first baseman.  This season, McCardell has pulled double duty as a pitcher, starting five games, including four PSAC East starts, and appeared as a reliever in 14 other games.  McCardell has a 6-2 record with four saves and a 1.46 earned-run average in 49.1 innings.  He has struck out 64 batters and walked just 10.  Opponents are hitting a measly .164 against him.  He was 5-1 with a save in seven PSAC East games, including four starts.  At the plate, McCardell is hitting .358 with 25 RBI and four homers.

            Loper earns his third-straight first-team honor as an outfielder and his first as a pitcher.  The centerfielder is hitting .340 (53-156) with 29 runs, 11 doubles, four homers and 29 RBI.  He has played in more career games than any previous Golden Bear (210) and ranks among KU's all-time leaders in at bats (626), runs (136), hits (217), RBI (149), doubles (40), triples (9) and home runs (24).  As a pitcher, Loper is 6-0 with a 3.65 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 24.2 innings this season.  He has a career record of 17-5.

            Kranz earns his second-straight All-PSAC East honor, after receiving second-team status in 2006.  Kranz is hitting .328 (45-137) with a team-high 44 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples and 35 RBI.  He has been hit by pitches a PSAC-leading 21 times and a KU career record-tying 43 times.

            Bond earns his second-straight All-PSAC East utility player award, after being named to the second team last year prior to transferring from West Chester.  Bond is hitting .352 (51-145) with 42 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and 25 RBI.  He has drawn a PSAC-best 35 walks.  

            Mills, a transfer from George Mason, is a first-time All-PSAC East honoree.  He holds a 6-0 record with a  1.37 ERA in 46.0 innings.  He has 40 strikeouts and 16 walks, while opponents hit just .208 against him.  Mills has appeared in seven games, with three complete and one shutout.  

            Lightcap, the 2006 PSAC East Rookie of the Year, earns his first all-conference honor.  The leftfielder is hitting .384 (48-125) with 29 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, four homers and 37 RBI.  He has played in 41 games.  

            Blum earns his third PSAC East Coach of the Year honor in his fifth year at the helm of the Golden Bear baseball program.  He was previously named coach of the year in 2004 and 2006.  KU has a record of 45-5, setting a school record for wins in a season.  The team was named the number one team in Division II during the season.  During his tenure, Blum is 190-68.

            Kutztown remained #1 in the North Atlantic Regional Rankings, released on Wednesday.  With regular-season and conference championship play concluded, Kutztown is likely to be selected to host the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional May 17-20 at North Campus Field, when the official selections are announced on Sunday (May 13).

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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
Website: http://www.kubears.com
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