ST. LOUIS ? No. 2 seed Indiana State (33-18, 15-7 MVC) had its best season in Missouri Valley Conference play since the 1998 season with its second place finish in the regular season standings. That was due to several outstanding individual performances and on Monday, nine Sycamores were honored with All-Missouri Valley Conference plaudits for their efforts in a vote by the league's head coaches.
Four Sycamores earned first-team honors, including junior Ryan Strausborger who earned first team honors at second base last season. This season, Strausborger was named to the first team as a utility player after splitting playing time at second base and in center field for ISU. The Osceola, Ind., native hit .341 with five home runs and 23 RBI in 51 starts for ISU and also led the team with 21 stolen bases from the leadoff spot.
Senior Brady Shoemaker earned first-team honors in the outfield, after being named an honorable mention selection last season. The Brazil, Ind., native led the Sycamores with a .406 batting average, which ranked second in the league and was the highest for an ISU player since 1998 (Kip Provines, .414). Shoemaker also finished with a team-high 14 home runs and drove in 49 runs. He also led all players in the MVC in slugging percentage (.729), on base percentage (.521), runs scored (64), total bases (140) and walks (41).
Junior Nick Ciolli also picked up first-team All-MVC honors in the outfield for ISU after hitting .392 on the season in 51 starts with 18 doubles, four home runs and 49 RBI. The Terre Haute, Ind., native also led the team and the MVC in hits during the season with 82 and finished third in the league with his .392 batting average.
Rounding out the first-team honorees was junior starting pitcher Joe Rodriguez. The left-hander from Middletown, N.Y., finished the season with 7-2 record and a 4.87 ERA in 12 starts on the mound. Rodriguez pitched 77.2 innings and struck out 58 batters for the Sycamores, but his numbers in conference play were even more impressive as he posted a 5-1 record with a 3.72 ERA in seven starts.
Three Sycamores picked up second-team honors, including senior catcher Bronco Lafrenz. The Sioux City, Iowa, native led the team and the Valley with 56 RBI while compiling a .337 average in 45 starts. Lafrenz also launched 13 home runs on the season, one behind Shoemaker for the team lead, while collecting 13 doubles and posting a .991 fielding percentage behind the dish.
Starting pitcher Jake Petricka also earned second-team honors in his first season with the Sycamores. The Fariboult, Minn., native posted a 7-2 record with a 4.37 ERA in 12 starts on the mound for ISU and tied Rodriguez for the team lead in wins with seven. In 68 innings of work, Petricka struck out 45 batters and finished with a 4-2 record in Valley play.
Senior reliever Matt Shelton rounded out the second-team honorees, after making the move to the bullpen this season from the starting rotation. The Loves Park, Ill., native embraced his new role and finished the season with a 4-1 record and a 4.85 ERA in 22 appearances on the mound. Shelton also led the Sycamores with five saves as the team's closer. His numbers were even better in Valley play, as he finished 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 11 appearances.
Rounding out this year's award winners for the Sycamores as honorable mention selections were third baseman Luke Fieser and designated hitter Tyler Graham.
Fieser, a junior from Woodinville, Wash., made an immediate impact in the lineup and in the field at third base for the Sycamores. Fieser hit .358 with nine doubles and 29 RBI in 50 starts for ISU and posted separate hitting streaks of 12 and 21 games throughout the year. He also finished with a perfect fielding percentage in Valley play, not making an error in 65 chances in the field.
Graham, a native of Strafford, Ontario, earned honorable mention honors in his first season with the Sycamores as their primary DH. Graham, who also caught several games for ISU, hit .289 with 14 doubles and 32 RBI from the left side in 43 games played and 38 starts.
No. 2 seeded Indiana State will open the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference on Wednesday night against the host and No. 3 seeded Wichita State Shockers. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST at Eck Stadium.
