News

A school-record five members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team received NAIA All-American status when the 2002 teams were announced at the NAIA World Series over the weekend.

Justin Clarey, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, highlighted the list as he became the first MVNC catcher to earn NAIA All-American First Team status. The former All-Ohioan at Hilliard Dabry High School was one of only two catchers selected to the All-American First Team. Clarey, who was an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American last year, batted .411 with 11 doubles, one triple, a team-high nine home runs, 15 runs scored, and a team-leading 58 runs batted in. He also threw out eight of the 18 runners who attempted to steal on him.

Adam Rowe, a sophomore pitcher from Wooster, Ohio, was named to the NAIA All-American Second Team. The former standout at Wooster High School posted a 10-0 record on the mound this season with a 3.00 earned run average. Rowe, a southpaw, pitched a team-high 81 innings and struck out a team-best 78 batters while issuing just 31 walks. Opposing batters hit just .247 against him for the year. He also posted a .382 batting average with six doubles, one home run, 16 RBI, and 25 runs scored.

Mark Coulter, a senior first baseman from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was selected as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American for the second straight year. The former Lewistown Area High School star led the Cougars with a .436 batting average as he compiled a team-high 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 54 RBI, and 31 runs scored. Coulter, a southpaw, also went 7-2 on the mound with a 3.83 ERA.

Scott Crawford, a senior shortstop from Waldo, Ohio, joined Coulter as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. The former River Valley High School standout batted .356 with nine doubles, a team-high four triples, two home runs, 19 RBI, and 49 runs scored. Crawford also stole eight bases.

Jon Barchus, a sophomore pitcher from Crestline, Ohio, was also named as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. The former Mansfield Christian High School product posted a 3-2 record on the mound with a 3.21 ERA and a school-record seven saves. In 28 innings of work, the right-hander struck out 33 batters and issued just 11 walks.

MVNC had previously had three players named to the NAIA All-American teams the same year in both 1997 (Travis Gray, Marty McLeary, and Sean Barrett) and 1999 (Andy Heimbach, Dave Byard, and Jeff Lavin).

The Cougars finished the 2002 season with a 38-11 overall record. MVNC was second in the American Mideast Conference with a 17-5 mark, and the team finished as the NAIA Region IX Tournament runner-up for the third straight year.