"Eight Cougars Earn NCCAA All-Region Baseball Honors"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

Mark Coulter	Mike Waddell	Jason Hall

Jeff Wine	Scott Crawford	Adam Rowe

Justin Clarey	Joel Laslo	Coach Keith Veale

   Eight members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team were recently honored when the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Team was announced.

   Junior Mark Coulter, a left-handed pitcher from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, highlighted the list as he finished as the runner-up in balloting for NCCAA East Region Player of the Year. The former Lewistown Area High School product leads the Cougars with an 8-2 record and a 3.56 earned run average on the mound. Coulter, who also plays first base, has compiled a .392 batting average and ranks second on the team with 50 runs batted in and 10 home runs.

   Joining Coulter on the 16-player NCCAA East Region Team were seniors Mike Waddell, Jason Hall, and Jeff Wine, junior Scott Crawford, and freshmen Adam Rowe and Justin Clarey.

   Waddell, an outfielder/pitcher from Cardington, Ohio, has posted a .447 batting average with a team-high 20 doubles, 12 home runs, and 57 runs batted in. The former multi-sport standout at Cardington-Lincoln High School has also compiled a 6-1 record on the mound.

   Hall, a second baseman from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is currently batting .377 with 28 RBI and 29 runs scored. The Mount Vernon High School graduate has only committed three errors in 162 chances on defense, and he has stolen eight bases.

   Wine, an outfielder from Bourbonnais, Illinois, has compiled a .404 batting average with 34 RBI and a team-high 52 runs scored. The former Bradley-Bourbonnais High School star has also tied the single-season school record with eight triples, and he has stolen 11 bases in 13 attempts.

   Crawford, a shortstop from Waldo, Ohio, leads the team with a .473 batting average to go along with 30 RBI and 34 runs scored. Despite playing in only 24 games this season due to injury, the former River Valley High School standout was chosen as the top shortstop in the region.

   Rowe, a left-handed pitcher from Wooster, Ohio, has posted an outstanding 7-3 record and a 3.68 ERA in his first collegiate season. The Wooster High School product has recorded 48 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings this season, while opposing batters are hitting just .236 against him.

   Clarey, a catcher from Columbus, Ohio, is batting .380 in his first collegiate season. The former standout at Hilliard Darby High School has appeared in 41 of the team's 46 games and compiled five home runs, 10 runs scored, and 28 RBI.

   Senior Joel Laslo, an outfielder from Mount Vernon, Ohio, also earned Honorable Mention on the NCCAA East Region Team. The former Mount Vernon High School star has recorded a .354 batting average with 26 RBI and 24 runs scored.

   Head coach Keith Veale was also selected as the NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year for guiding the team to a 33-13 overall record so far. MVNC is currently competing in the NAIA Region IX Tournament in Butler, Pennsylvania.