"Cougars Place Eight on NCCAA East Region Baseball Team"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

Mark Coulter	Adam Rowe	Chris Holly

Jon Barchus	Justin Clarey	Scott Crawford

Eddie Wright	Jason Irish	Coach Keith Veale

   The Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team was well represented when the 2002 National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Team was announced recently.

   Mark Coulter, a senior first baseman/pitcher from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, highlighted the All-Region Team as he was named the Player of the Year. The former Lewistown Area High School standout leads the Cougars with a .444 batting average. He has recorded 12 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 27 runs scored, and 47 runs batted in. Coulter has also posted a 6-2 record on the mound with a 3.19 earned run average.

   Adam Rowe, Chris Holly, Jon Barchus, Justin Clarey, Scott Crawford, and Eddie Wright all joined Coulter on the All-Region Team, while Jason Irish was an All-Region Honorable Mention pick.

   Rowe, a sophomore left-handed pitcher from Wooster, Ohio, has posted a 10-0 record on the mound with a 2.96 ERA. In 67 innings pitched, the former Wooster High School star has struck out 65 batters. Rowe, who also plays in the outfield when not pitching, is also batting .429 with 13 RBI and 20 runs scored.

   Holly, a senior right-handed pitcher from Sunbury, Ohio, has compiled a 7-3 record on the mound with a 2.73 ERA. In 62 2/3 innings of work, the former Big Walnut High School product has struck out 41 batters, while opponents are hitting just .223 against him.

   Barchus, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Crestline, Ohio, was chosen as the All-Region reliever. The Mansfield Christian High School graduate leads MVNC with seven saves, and he has posted a 2-0 record with a 1.17 ERA in 15 appearances. In 23 innings of work, Barchus has struck out 28 batters and issued just six walks.

   Clarey, a sophomore catcher from Columbus, Ohio, leads the Cougars with 50 RBI and nine home runs while batting .429. The former All-Ohioan at Hilliard Darby High School has also recorded 10 doubles, one triple, and 15 runs scored.

   Crawford, a senior shortstop from Waldo, Ohio, has posted a .344 batting average with eight doubles, a team-high four triples, two home runs, 17 RBI, and a team-high 42 runs scored. The former River Valley High School standout is also 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts.

   Wright, a senior outfielder from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is currently batting .387 with nine doubles, one triple, three home runs, 28 RBI, and 30 runs scored. The former Mount Vernon High School star has also stolen six bases.

   Irish, a junior designated hitter/outfielder from Cortland, Ohio, has posted a .380 batting average so far. The former Lakeview High School product has also registered eight doubles, two home runs, 26 RBI, and 22 runs scored.

   Head coach Keith Veale was also honored by his peers by being selected as the East Region Coach of the Year. Veale has guided MVNC to a 34-9 overall record this season. The Cougars, who have won 11 straight games and 14 of their last 15 contests, will begin postseason play on Wednesday in the NAIA Region IX Tournament. MVNC will take on Shawnee State University at 1:00 p.m. at Ohio Wesleyan College in the first round.